Another Win For Four Man Hardly As They Secure Cup Upset

Last updated : 03 December 2010 By Dan Buxton

Hardly Athletic ended their cup campaign on a winning note after a feisty game saw them secure a 2-1 victory against a side doing well in the league above.

Hardly knew they were unable to qualify after losing five of their opening six cup games but were out for revenge after a controversial defeat to Take Over Target in last seasons cup competition.

Giving a debut to Stoke Ramblers goalkeeper Rich Glennon and defender Craig Preece Hardly started fantastically with Chris Cope curling in the opening goal direct from the kick off.

Glennon was in fine form throughout the game and thwarted Target time and again, frustrating the opposition as he, along with some brave and committed defending, kept the lead in tact through to half time.

There was a big flashpoint midway through the first period when Cope was sin binned after a tough shoulder challenge was deemed over the top by the referee. After leaving the pitch Cope was confronted by two Target players, subs at the time, and a heated exchange saw players from both sides leave the field to calm the situation down before the game resumed.

The second half began with more tough tackling aswell as some great saves from both keepers, mainly Man of the Match Glennon, was interupted by a sin bin for Target after a late tackle from behind on Dan Buxton saw the ref give a blue card to the same player who had squared upto Cope in the first half.

With Buxton forced to leave the field with a dead leg the sinbinned Target player tried to wind up Buxton off the field but the bait wasn't taken, and the lead was duly doubled by Cope when he finished well from a tight angle.

Hardly now had a bit of breathing space but that was halved when Target finally got off the mark, a powerful effiort from close range that flew into the roof of the net.

There was more drama as Cope danced past three tackles, being clipped by all three, before losing the ball as he stumbled out of the third tackle. A free kick was given to the opposition for head height, after a 50/50 tackle sent the ball into the air, and Cope showed his disgust for not getting a foul for any of the tackles by smacking the ball away, earning a red card in the process.

Hardly were then forced to see out the final five minutes a man down but held firm to claim a well received victory.