HDFC stepped up there busy week with a very well battled game against Hanley Town Reserves on Wednesday Night at Potteries Park.

With players coming back from injury and been away the squad was still a little thin on the ground, but showed a better performance than that was seen on Saturday.

New CB pairing or Repton and Johnson showed that even they had not been together playing before they formed a solid working bond. Connor Bithell was available at left back and showed why the HDFC management are looking for him to sign on the dotted line. The return of Adam Sheldon to the middle of the park was also a massive part to play as the team found there feet in the game. Early chances come with Danny Bentley making some good moves off Ryan Smith only to be denied by a worrying offside call. Matt Fern also got more game time in after missing most of last season.
Gaz Meir played a wonderful freekick in that Ryan Smith had his header hit the top of the crossbar. Hanley Town were showing there standard of been 2 leagues higher to HDFC with some lovely interlinking football which lead to them crossing the ball into the box and for a shot to go past HDFC keeper Matt Halliwell.

Half Time - Hanley Town Res 1-0 HDFC

Changes at Half time sore Tom Baker, Ryan Taylor and Mike Bentley come into the game and Ryan Taylor straight away made a very good impact at Center back alongside Corry. It was Johan Kok that showed why the team miss him when he is not there with some clever play in the middle to feed Matt Fern, who crossed the ball into the box for it to fall to Danny Bentley who tucked it away in the back of the net to bring the game level.

Hanley pressed more and more and the HDFC players legs were showing the tiredness that was expected after playing Saturday and with a game on Thursday against Market Drayton, players were rotated and rested with this in mind. The HDFC rear guard however had the game seen out and a well respected draw against higher level opposition.

HDFC Assistant Coach Shaun Rogers...

That was a fine result from the chaps tonight, they showed a much better display tonight than what we had seen in the first half of Saturdays game. The return of a few key players was good to see and it was great to see other players get more game time in there legs as we look now towards the seasons start.

HDFC now play Market Drayton Tigers on Thursday night at St. Peters Academy in Fenton 8pm kickoff

NDFC

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