Hardly lost for the third time in the cup, narrowly going down by a single goal against Premier League Old Mill.
With Dan Buxton coming in for the injured Chris Cope, Hardly quickly got stuck in to the opposition but their eagerness resulted in Dan Middleton being sin binned after barely two minutes for foul and abusive language towards the referee.
Down to four men Athletic were up against it and fell a goal down when the ball was slammed past Gordon in goal. With the team restored to five it was then Mill's turn to lose a man as a player was sin binned for a heavy foul, flying into the back of Newman, and Athletic took full advantage with Newman drilling the free kick into the bottom corner.
Athletic couldn't net again though before the opposition's quota was restored and at half time the scores were level.
The second half started with a game of goal tennis as firstly Mill netted a second, quickly equalised by Hallam's fabulous persistence and skill for Athletic. Mill then added a third when a powerful strike flew through bodies around the box leaving Gordon unsighted and then Newman powered past a defender before slamming the ball into the net and equalling things up again.
With a pulsating finale in store Athletic fell behind for a fourth time when a good finish left Athletic chasing the game in the closing stages. Their hopes were raised when Mill were again reduced to four men, a sin bin handed out for spitting, but despite plenty of effort the Old Mill's doggedness and spirited defending saw them see out the game for a narrow win.