Hardly crashed to another defeat in controversial circumstances at Fenton Manor.
Athletic were playing their final cup game of the season and were up against Take Over Target, a mid table Division One outfit. This gap in league placings wasn't evident early on as Hardly, with no subs for the fourth time in seven games, knocked the ball about well and created numerous chances.
The first one to be taken came after a lovely move where all four outfield players, including regular goalkeeper Joe Gordon who played the first half out, laying the ball off to a teammate before Dan Hallam was slid in on goal and he made no mistake, finding the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
The lead should have been doubled moments later when neat one touch football concluded with Cope back heeeling into the path of Buxton. The defender, who had more of a roaming half than usual, burst through the middle but, with the pressure of opening his seasons account looming, his shot was weak and easily stopped by the keeper.
Target were back level five minutes before half time when a turn and shot from the edge of the box hit the post and rebounded to safety. The play went on before the referee amazingly gave a goal, much to the dismay of the Hardly players and the amusement of the Target players.
The frustration was took up a notch straight from the kick off when Buxton direct shot whistled just wide of the post before bouncing behind the goal. This prompted Cope to shout 'That a goal then ref?' and subsequently found himself sin binned and off for two minutes.
The Division One side took the lead two minutes before the break when a quick passing move ended with a man over and he confidently curled the ball across deputising keeper Peart and into the far corner of the goal.
The second period began with more bite from Hardly and the game flowed from end to end before two quickfire goals, both from two on one situations, left Hardly up against it and although Hallam pulled a goal back following another neat passing move, a late surge of pressure wasn't enough to get a result and end Hardly's long losing streak.
Next week see's the final game of the season as Hardly take on league champions Eaton Park, who have already beaten Hardly in both league and cup this season.