Hardly had an unscheduled kick off change for a second week running, but this time it was brought forward rather than put back, and with nobody telling the side until they turned up, the game was agreed to be a draw and then a team in the same boat, Red Arrows agreed to a last minute friendly, refereed by Hardly's injured player Dan Buxton.
The teams are both in Division Two but the first scheduled fixture between the two was a walkover for Hardly after Arrows couldn't put a team out due to the Stoke v Manchester City FA Cup tie.
The game kicked off and Arrows knocked the ball about well, whilst Hardly defended strongly and, although without late withdrawal and top scorer Ash Newman, had chances to open the scoring themselves but it was controversy at the other end that saw the deadlock broken as, with the Athletic keeper distracted by a second ball bouncing across him which he kicked away, the opposition took advantage by lashing the ball into the open goal.
The Red Arrows then looked to consolidate their lead and only good goalkeeping from Joe Gordon kept the score at one, before the equaliser was netted when Hallam controlled a pass before slipping past the keeper.
Hardly then took the lead after half time when Andy McEvoy scored a scorcher from distance, his first goal of the season, an absolute rocket that left the keeper with no chance. Just as the lead was looking safe and secure the equaliser came as a ball forward was controlled and then curled into the bottom corner from the left wing.
A third followed as a save by Gordon fell to an Arrows player who rolled it across for a teammate to tap into an empty net and then a goalkeeping error saw the scores pulled back level again as Matt Carters shot went straight through the keeper and into the net for the midfielders first goal for Hardly.
With minutes left Hardly seemed to heading for defeat after a fourth Arrows goal when, following good build up play, the ball was hammered into the bottom corner. Gordon had made numerous impressive saves during the second period but was left with no chance with this shot. That defeat was turned into a draw with a minute remaining as a pull back from Hallam was controlled by a defender, standing a yard inside of the penalty area. The ref pointed to the spot and Cope stepped up to drill the ball past the keeper and level the scores up for an honourable draw for both sides.