FLIXTON FC returned to league duty following last week's FA Cup diversion, when they visited Great Harwood Town on Monday.

They came home with a very creditable 2-2 draw, although it could be said that a visit here should produce 3 points.

Great Harwood had successfully made it through to the next round of the FA Cup by beating Northallerton, so were keen to produce the same form in the league.

Flixton, on the other hand, had gone out of the cup, and their squad was seriously depleted by way of injuries suffered in the previous three outings.

The injury list includes David Dale (knee), Mark Dewer (hamstring), Chris Hughes (ankle), Deano Shaw (hamstring) Cliff Greenhalgh (ankle), Gavin Ellison (knee) with four others (Bas Brown, Scott Dignan, Paul Jones, Dave Thomas) of the first team squad missing due to work and holidays.

Also, Rob Kelly is suspended due to misdemeanours committed whils playing foor his Sunday club.

Despite the loss of these players, the debutantes, Stuart Hartford, Mike McLoughlin, Gavin Newbrook and Roger Thomas all performed very well and deserved the praise given to them by manager Kevin Aston aftewr the game.

The first 45 minutes saw Flixton playing a 4-4-2 formation up the hill at The Sportsmans ground, which proved to be productive as they took a 2-0 lead through some superb football.

Both strikes were scored by Micky Bierne, heading home on six minutes from a Dave Fahay Cross and a penalty on 32 minutes.

Bierne showed great strength of character to take the kick, after having missed one the previous week. He made no mistake this time, drilling the ball low and to the keeper's left.

IN the second half, Flixton had the benefit of the hill, but they struggled to match Great Harwood's work rate and a flurry of attacks down the right produed several dangerous crosses, which keeper Dean Oram was reluctant to collect, despite them being within his six-yard goal area.

Eventually, Great Harwoodcarved out a fight-back with goals from Damien McKory and Richard Foggett.

In betwen these goalsm Flixton'S mIcky Bierne was unfortunate to receive his marching orders, along with the home side's Neil Otley, when a yellow card would have sufficed for both miscreants.

The red cards worked more in Great Harwood's favour than Flixton's, as the Valley Roaders lost their most dangerous and influential player, who had been working so hard for his team up front.

The loss of his strength put extra pressure on the midfield, and manager Kevin Aston tried to get his message to change the style of play across.

It was to no avail, however, as the match finished with a share of the points.