Eastleigh. His first career goal came on 10 September, when he scored the second in a 2–0 victory over Bishop's Stortford. His second goal came on 12 November, when he scored the winner in a 2–1 away win at Carshalton Athletic. His final goal of the season and for Hayes came on 11 February 2006, when he scored the leveller in a 1–1 draw with Bognor Regis Town. Bartley remained a first team regular during the season making a total of 40 appearances, scoring three goals as they narrowly avoided relegation. His first game of the 2006–07 season came on 12 August 2006, in a 3–1 defeat to Histon. His final appearance for Hayes was on 12 September, when he came on as a substitute in a 3–2 defeat to Bognor Regis Town. In September 2006, Bartley joined Southern League side Didcot Town. He scored on his début, coming off the bench to score the second in a 2–2 draw with Windsor & Eton on 24 September. Bartley made a total of two appearances for Didcot before signing for Isthmian League side Hampton & Richmond Borough on a free transfer in October 2006. His début came on 17 October, in a 2–2 draw away at Heybridge Swifts. He remained a first-team regular and on 24 April 2007 he made his final appearance for Hampton in the reverse fixture to Heybridge, which again finished 2–2. He made a total of 25 appearances for the Beavers as they were crowned champions and gained promotion to the Conference South. AFC Bournemouth Bartley was close to joining Football League Two side Milton Keynes Dons after spending a week on trial, until manager Martin Allen departed for Leicester City. In the summer of 2007, Bartley joined Football League One side AFC Bournemouth on a two-week trial, playing in pre-season friendlies against Hamworthy United, Weymouth and Southampton. On 23 July, he signed a one-year professional contract after the successful trial, becoming the fourth new arrival. Prior to joining Bournemouth he had been combining his semi-professional career with installing double glazing for The Splash Group in Reading. He made his début for the Cherries on 1 December 2007, in the FA Cup second round defeat away to Millwall, coming on as a late substitute for Jo Kuffour. His league début came a week later where he again featured as a substitute, coming on for Jem Karacan in