Hardly are still searching for that elusive first win, after losing to the leagues latest recruits by four goals to one.
Having only found out about the game 24 hours prior to kick off, Athletic were dealt an further blow when influential keeper Joe Gordon pulled out of the game with flu on the morning of the game.
After much searching for a keeper for the game, Athletic decided to go with what they had and Dan Buxton donned the gloves. With new signing Ash Newman making his debut Athletic hoped to protect the goal and make the most of the attacking qualities of Cope and Newman.
Turning up to play a new side was also a disadvantage, and it turned out that the team we were to play are a successful side from the Minor Counties Sunday League, and they knocked the ball around well, making Athletic chase it for most of the game.
At half time, despite heavy pressure and many shots reigning in on goal, Athletic were just the two goals down, and still in the game, but quickly conceded a third and fourth goal in the second half.
They did get themselves off the mark though in the closing stages when Newman's persistence allowed him the chance to rifle the ball past the keeper and into the net.