Win Keep Hardly Top Of The Pile

Last updated : 31 August 2011 By Dan Buxton

Table topping Hardly Athletic defeated City Veterans by five goals to two to keep their place at the summit of Division Two.

Hardly put on heavy early pressure before falling behind after five minutes but the energetic James Robins made room for himself before equalising seconds after the restart, with a great shot low into the corner of the goal.

Matthew Peart then gave Hardly the lead with a long range effort before the scores were levelled up on half time when the Veterans frontman scored from an acute angle.

The second half saw the younger Hardly pile on the pressure and Dan Buxton collected a pass from Andy McEvoy before finishing past the keeper and then doubled his tally with a sidefooted finish from the opposite side of the goal minutes later.

That gave Hardly breathing space and they then sat on their lead before a breakaway led to Matthew Young finishing with aplomb to make the points safe with five minutes to go.