Flixton 1 - 1 FCUoM

A crowd of 1,025 looked on as FC went four games without a win in a well-fought affair at Valley Road.
The fixture, which ended in a draw almost a year ago in division two, saw former United striker Joz Mitten lining up for the home side, while reds left back Alex Mortimer returned to face his former club.
Mortimer was joined in a familiar-looking back line of captain Dave Chadwick, Rob Nugent and Matty Taylor.
Rory Patterson started in midfield alongside Nicky Platt, Simon Carden and Steve Spencer, with Stuart Rudd and Dave Swarbrick leading the attack.
It took just five minutes for the visitors to have a strike at goal, with Rudd hitting a powerful shot from about 15 yards out.
He brought a good save out of Flixton stopper Andy Robertson, but he was unable to keep hold of the ball and it fell into the path of Swarbrick, who was in an offside position.
The home side - starting the game 14th in the league, but with seven games in hand on leaders Salford - had their first effort on the 10-minute mark, with forward Anthony Hargeaves hitting a low shot past Ashton's right-hand post.
Then followed three decent chances for Swarbrick, who recently returned from a lengthy injury layoff.
The first, on the quarter-hour mark, saw Flixton's Phil Bayliss produce a superb goal-stopping tackle, before teammate Mark Ayres blocked a Swabrick shot two minutes later.
But the former Holker Old Boys forward wasn't to be denied a strike on 17 minutes, though he was unable to hit the target.
Strike parter Rudd came close a minute later, when he connected with a left-sided corner from six yards out, only to be denied by the crossbar.
For their constant pressure, FC got their rewards on 25 minutes, when a long clearance from Ashton found Patterson in space.
The Irishman turned superbly and volleyed home from 20 yards out low to the 'keeper's right for 1-0 - Patterson's 19th of the season.
It was by far the most entertaining period of the game, and the action didn't die down for the next 10 minutes.
A minute after the goal, Ashton found himself rushing out of the area and was penalised by referee T Massey for handling outside the area.
The former Bolton Wanderers number one was escaped with a yellow card and the resulting free kick was cleared easily.
United were back on the attack just after the half hour mark, with Taylor rushing forward down the left wing.
The ball was then played in to Spencer, who hit a fantastic 25-yard effort, which was brilliantly saved by Robertson.
Flixton dealt well with the pressure throughout the opening period, and were able to level on 35 minutes.
Catching the visitors on the break, Hargreaves found space on the edge of the area, fooling Chadwick and lobbing the ball skilfully over Ashton for 1-1.
Nugent lead the fightback for FC, with another long range effort. But this time, Robertson was able to stand back and watch the ball go harmlessly over the bar.
Carden had the only other decent chance of the first half, shooting disappointingly over the bar from about 10 yards out.
The second half was a much more quiet affair, with Flixton fighting to lower the tempo and United feeling the frustration of not being able to produce in the final third.
Taylor picked up an ankle injury shortly into the half and was replaced by Dave Brown, while Josh Howard replaced Patterson for the last 15 minutes of the game.
Mitten was given a hearty ovation on 73 minutes when Lee Wilkinson took his place, and caused the reds' back line numerous problems in the closing stages.
But it was Flixton's Ian Howard who was to closest in the half for the home team, bringing a fine save out of Ashton, who had to cling onto the ball to prevent Hargraves from netting for the second time of the day.
At the other end, Howard enjoyed lots of space down the right, but couldn't link up with Carden, Rudd, Swarbrick and Platt for the perfect final ball.
Carden could have clinched it for FC when he was put through on goal on 55 minutes, but he spurned the shot over the bar.
And late on, Platt missed a golden chance, guiding a free header straight at the keeper from close range.
Flixton had a late charge in the last 20 minutes of the game, but it was honours even at the final whistle.
The result leaves United in second place, with top of the table Salford winning 3-1 at home, stretching the margin to six points.
A win for Abbey Hey today could see Flixton drop to 15th.