Hardly Athletic 0-4 Allstars

Last updated : 21 January 2010 By Dan Buxton

Hardly produced their best performance yet, but still went down by four goals to nil, in their opening cup game.

Facing Allstars, the same side that beat them 7-1 last week, Hardly handed a debut to Dan Middleton, but registration rules meant Ash Newman wasn't allowed to compete this week with Andy McEvoy and Dave Capostagne dropping out for the week.

The game started well for Athletic with more communication and pressing of the opposition and by half time they had only scored once, a fantastic effort from the half way line that flew past half a dozen players and into the top corner. As the half finished Athletic pressed and went close to netting on numerous occasions but just couldn't add the finishing touch.

The second half started with more of the same but then, five minutes in, a crazy few moments saw Allstars wrap the game up. firstly a loose pass allowed a second before, moments after the kick off, a counter attack saw a third goal netted and then an unlucky Dan Middleton own goal ended the scoring.

The heads had been down but the strugglers picked themselves up and rallied, firing in quite a few shots as the game drew to a close whilst also relying on Joe Gordon to produce a few spectacular saves and keep the score at four.

Athletic currently have two weeks off now, due to league vacancies, before they return to competition against Division One side Inter on 7.45pm ko, which is again a cup game.