Table Toppers Allstars Prove Too Strong For Hardly

Last updated : 07 October 2010 By Dan Buxton

Hardly Athletic couldn't cause an upset as they were defeated by top of the table Allstars United.

Allstars started well and scored within a minute but soon after, quick passing put in Young and his driving run was well finished by the midfielder for his first ever Hardly goal.

Allstars again took the lead after seven minutes but Cope' fine finish, with his right foot, again drew Hardly level.

Hardly were more than holding their own but were still thankful to keeper Joe Gordon for keeping the scores level, that was until shortly before half time when Gordon was adjudged to have left his area and a penalty was awarded. The spot kick was converted and the lead then doubled moments before half time when slack marking left two on one in the final third and the ball was slotted past Gordon.

The second half started with Hardly swapping Gordon in goal for Young and the second period started the same as the first with Allstars netting the opening strike, in fact the first two, as two identical goals stretched the lead. Athletic were hit on the break twice in quick succession, with numerous Allstars players bearing down on Buxton as the only defender back, with clinical finishing seeing both chances dispatched with ease.

Allstars completed their scoring with ten minutes remaining when a quick shot squirmed through Young's legs and just over the line.

The scoring wasn't complete though and Hardly, who had competed in what was quite an even battle throughout with just far more clinical finishing from Allstars as the difference, found the net for a third time when a tentative toe poke from Middleton was fumbled by the keeper, the ball rolling over the line to pull a goal back and seal Middleton a third in three games this season.