Flixton FC

I'd seen Flixton a few weeks back at Ashville and despite them winning that day, I thought they looked fairly average and had no idea of the immense financial backing they possess. It was only upon entering The Valley, Flixton's home ground, and I saw the huge electronic scoreboard in the corner that questions started to be asked. Their pitch is an immaculate hybrid surface, the stand has plenty of seats and looks new and the bar is so high end, like a fancy city centre establishment, not the usual non league offering. The food hatch serves ample food options, again much like Denbigh the week before, the only thing they lacked was a club shop although Flixton do have a good range of items stocked and listed online where you can also buy your match ticket. It is worth noting the ground is a fully cashless venue, a rarity also at this level. They also have the USA flag flying along with the Union Jack in a nod to the owner. Flixton not a complete unknown to me as my dads uncle lived in the town, it is also known for it's shipping canal and it was humerous that a ships horn is sounded over the tannoy every time Flixton score. Strangly despite there being 388 in attendance there is little to no cheer when the goals fly in, most of the attendees seem to only be there for the nice surroundings in which to drink alcohol, a theme mirrored at clubs up and down the country sadly. I skipped the bar in the ground but after arriving on the 256 bus from Manchester in very good time I visited Sam Smiths pub the Railway Tavern for a reasonable pint of Taddy Lager, it was strange sat there as my dad used to go in about 50 years previous on his visits to Lancashire.

The admission was £7 and i bought pie peas and gravy for £5.70 I was given a generous scoop of peas however the pie lacked meaningful filling, with little steak present. I was fully expecting a home win for this game as the opposition AFC Knowsley are struggling at the wrong end of the league whilst Flixton are riding high in fourth. Despite the visitors looking calm and collected for the first 10 minutes or so Flixton went ahead in the thirteenth and never looked back really. An excellent through ball from the creative 10 to the rapid number 9 who ran through and turned the keeper one way and then the other putting him on his backside and firing into the net, the covering defender was useless and did little more than just watch it all happen really. A minute later there was drama as the visitors threatened putting a dangerous cross into the box which was clearly handballed above his head by the home defender. Despite initially looking to give the penalty the referee waved claims away, the visitors bench was livid and rightly so in my opinion as this decision seemed to change the whole course of the game and Knowsley rarely threatened after this, it was like getting winded and never recovering. There was more drama amidst the outrage as the dangerous Flixton 9 broke and so nearly made it 2.0 but missed. Just after the half hour mark the Flixton 10 wriggled through, hit the post and it rolled across the line before being cleared, Flixton were just dictating the game now. It didnt take them long to double their lead as a cross from the right was turned into his own net by an away defender, a gift for Flixton but no more than their pressure deserved.

Eight minutes after the break and there was no let up from Flixton as slack defending allowed the 10 to hit a deflected shot into the bottom corner. In the 67th minute there was an ironic moment as Flixton were awarded a penalty for handball, this one not even as blatant as the earlier one not given for Knowsley and could even have argued his hand was in a natural position, but it was given and dispatched 4.0 to Flixton and a routine home win in the end. Four minutes later the home side hit the post again and again it rolled across the line and into the keepers arms, the second time this has happened in the game. Six minutes from time and there was a mass scramble in the Knowsley penalty area with two penalty claims and three  blocked shots. Then in added on time Flixton again hit the post in a dominant home win, although I do wonder if it wasn't for the weak referee we may have had a different outcome.