Hardly Athletic chase for a first win of the season continued, despite a superb second half comeback.
Hardly were without the suspended Chris Cope aswell as a number of other players, including Dan Buxton, Joe Gordon and Ash Newman but welcomed back Paul Dale in goal and Matthew Young played out for the first time in two years after recovering from knee surgery.
The first half didn't go down well with Athletic when, after Hallam equalised 4ply's early opener, slack marking allowed the opposition to net at will, with Dale working wonders to leave Athletic with a slender chance of getting back in the game at half time, but the keeper unable to stop the score reaching 6-1 by the interval.
Six became seven moments after the break but that seemed to spark Athletic into life and slick, accurate passing allowed Hardly, and Hallam to grab three quickfire goals tobring the game back into the balance.
Hardly continued to dominate the play during the final five minutes and Matthew Peart struck both posts whilst Hallam was denied a fifth when his effort was ruled out for an apparent infringement that was harsh to say the least. Atheltic had other efforts aswell but some fine saves from the man in goal kept them at bay long enough for the opposition to see out the game and claim the spoils.