FLIXTON 3, CAMMELL LAIRD 1907 4
Manager Alex Mortimer accused his Flixton players of ill-discipline as there was no happy homecoming after they were beaten by Cammell Laird 1907 in North West Counties League, First Division North.
The Lions roared into a two-goal lead and were seemingly coasting to a first victory for 14 years as this was the first competitive match at Valley Road since the rebirth of the club.
But Laird hit back, though they were aided by substitute Kyle Jacobs’ sending off which left Flixton with 10 players for nearly half the match.
“Ill-discipline cost us, something we mentioned the game,” explained Mortimer.
“I am disappointed because we beat ourselves tonight. We had to defend set-pieces better.
“As a manager it is a head scratcher because we were in complete control and, of we had scored four, there wouldn’t have been any arguments.!
Mortimer described it as a “moment of madness” from the vastly experienced Jacobs as the challenge he made was when the ball was out of play.
It was an emotional night as this was the Lions’ first competitive match at Valley Road since 2012 following the mothballed club being bought by American businessman Chris Garcia.
He was in California but his investment in both the club and the team were in evidence with the ground having been given a spectacular makeover and a squad assembled at some cost.
Flixton, who drew their opening game at Squires Gate on Saturday, made a dream start.
Lewis-Simon Byrne headed against the bar inside two minutes. The only surprise as it took until the 19th minute before they made the breakthrough.
Winger Leon Creech, signed from Clitheroe, a club two divisions higher, raced clear. His initial shot was well saved by keeper Hayden Davis but he fired home the rebound.
Six minutes later it was 2-0 as Byrne, who scored a remarkable 63 goals for Chadderton last season, headed home Creech’s cross.
Bryne, who also found the net on Saturday, glanced a header narrowly wide as Flixton were in complete control.
Then out of nothing, Laird halved the deficit on the stroke of half time with a worldy strike from Charlie Holland from distance into the top corner.
And it might have been 2-2 in stoppage time but for a fine reflex save from keeper Cameron Mason to turn over Joe Downey’s shot.
But Laird were level within three minutes of the restart when the home defence was carved open and Adam Smith was left in acres of space to fire home.
Flixton regained the lead through a penalty from Milan Lalkovic, a player with a classy pedigree, after a trip on Louis Holden.
The 33-year-old came through the ranks at Chelsea and is a former Slovakian U21 international and his many clubs included Portsmouth. He was signed from National League Noth side Chorley who are four divisions above them.
Jacobs’ sending off in the 57th minute tilted the match towards the visitors who made their extra player count.
They quickly made it 3-3 when a clearance fell to Downey on the edge of the box and he drilled home a low drive.
Lalkovic came within a whisker of putting Flixton back ahead when his effort was deflected narrowly wide.
But it was Laird who snatched victory in the 86th minute when Leo Patten’s in-swinging corner caused mayhem in the home defence and Smith was on hand to net his second of the game.
Flixton went close to snatching a point in the fourth added minute when the livewire Creech cut in from the left but fired over when you would have put your money on him finding the net.
Mortimer gave Laird credit for the way they never gave up in what was an enthralling game – there won’t be many better at this level in the 2026/27 campaign.