Dock started bright enough but it was Stirrup who opened the scoring after 20 minutes when a superb cross was headed past Dock’s keeper Roberts who had no chance (pictured left). From then on Dock struggled to put more than a couple of passes together and seem to try the long ball game which never looked like it was going to work.

Both teams had a couple of chances to score with Docks Mike Saunders and Colin O’Hanlon both unlucky not to find the back of the net, Stirrup had chances to double their lead especially late on when they had a free header 6 yards out which flew over the crossbar.

If Dock have aspirations to be crowned 2010 league champions they need to up their game dramatically and win the final game of the season on Thursday night against Woodchurch FC, twitchy bum time continues!!!

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Queens took advantage of the strong wind in the second half and regained the lead after 55 minutes as the big number 9 shot from just outside the area beating Paul Davies in the Dock goal, then with 20 minutes to go he doubled his tally and put the game beyond Dock. Dock now have two games left, both away ties against Stirrup and Woodchurch where they need three points which would see them crowned as champions. Twitchy bum time!!!

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With the half time score at 0-0 Rock Ferry came out the better team and deservedly took the lead via a Dave Lewis volley.

Dock tried hard to get back into the game but every ball sent into Rock Ferry half seemed to find the head of Dock's old centre forward Robbie Stewart, who was immense as a makeshift central defender

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The magnificent Gary Reay then took centre stage scoring his 29th and 30th of the season, but more incredibly his 399th and 400th career goal for Dock, he raced over to Mum Jean for a big well deserved hug, well done Gary (pictured below)!! Second half substitute Ray Redmond also got himself on the score sheet just before the final whistle.

The win leaves Dock requiring a maximum of 3 point from their final four games to see them become Houlihan's Birkenhead Sunday Football League Champions for the 6th time in their history.

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Hoylake found themselves down to 10 men early into the second half when one of their players was dismissed for two bookable offences. Dock took advantage of having the extra man and bombarded Hoylake’s goal but found the home keeper in magnificent form, but, on the hour mark Mike McGraa found himself on the far post to head a simple header past the home keeper to make the score 1-0, Gary Reay came off the bench and notched up his 398th goal for Dock to see them through to the next round. Final score Dock 2-0 Hoylake. (Been out on the beer all day, hope this is okay – bring back Stevo, please).

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Dock had a chance to regain the lead 5 minutes into the second half when Rock Ferry’s keeper Thompson was adjudged to have pushed Docks Bernie Holmes in the area giving the referee no option other than award Dock a penalty kick, which was taken by Mark Head but superbly saved by Thompson. Mark Head made up for his missed penalty 7 minutes later when his deflected shot flew over Thompson’s head and ended up in the back of Rock Ferry’s net. Injury time saw Rock Ferry pushing for an equaliser but Dock’s Mike Saunders had other ideas and hit them on the counter attack and scored to make the final score Dock 3-1 Rock Ferry

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The second half saw Heygarth put Dock under a tremendous amount of pressure, but Dock’s defence stood firm to keep all three points and extend their lead at the top of the table to 7 points. Final Score Dock 1-0 Heygarth FC.
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As the two teams warmed up it was obvious this game was going to be a mighty battle, Brow were full of big strong lads from the keeper all the way to the centre forward. However, Dock had the dream start after only five minutes when Gary Reay found the ball at his feet in front of an empty net following a Mike Saunders shot on goal, Gary made no mistake and blasted the ball home from about 6 inches out.

Brow deservedly drawn level just before half time when their centre forward found himself one on one with Dock’s keeper Paul Davies’, his superb chip found the crossbar but a teammate was on hand to nod in the rebound to make the half time score 1-1.

After a half time rollicking from Manager Mike McGraa and assistant Jason Packenham Dock upped their game and deservedly took the lead through a Mike Saunders goal and yet another Gary Reay effort, but not before Brow were unlucky not to take the lead after hitting the bar after a goal mouth scramble.

Hope this is ok, but I've just downed about 10 pints and 4 red wines, hehe, happy days!!!

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Both keepers, Ian Habershon and Dock’s Paul Roberts (pictured left), were tested in the goalless first half. Jason Whalley went close from a Steve Mallinson free kick, and, at the other end, Mike Saunders somehow managed to miss the target from six yards out.

In the opening minute of the second half, Mark Head's shot clipped the top of Real's bar. This was followed by the first of a couple of controversial decisions. Ben Brooks dribbled his way through on the left, and his cross bounced off the back of Dock's Ross Carragher for what seemed a perfectly good own goal, but the linesman’s flag went up to spoil the goal celebrations.

Real did not have to wait long for a celebration, Brooks beating the offside trap this time and sliding the ball under Roberts for the opening goal. Another debatable decision, this time in the Real penalty area, saw Dock awarded a penalty when the referee, Peter Davies, adjudged, that the ball had hit Rob Gibson on the hand, Gibson, claiming vehemently that it had hit him in the stomach. From the spot, Mark Head sent Habershon the wrong way for the equaliser.

Real hit back, with Mallinson scraping the bar with his side-footed shot and the impressive Mark Head, who was on Wrexham’s books last season, set up Craig Johnson for what should have been a late winner for the Dock.

Dean Forrester, came on in extra time for the very tired Ben Brooks. The Real defence, once again superbly marshalled by Gibson and Matty Hurst, were undone for the first time when sub Mick McGraa put top scorer Gary Reay through, to put the visitors in the lead. After another couple of efforts were cleared, Reay got his second.

It looked all over, but the battling spirit of Real showed when subs Jon Wood and Dean Forrester combined to put the game back in the melting pot, Forrester superbly finishing off Wood's cross.

In a bizarre ending, with the Dock team back-pedalling, keeper Ian Habershon galloped down the wing, and his cross, which found Roberts, saw Forrester bing off the save of the match to rob Real of the equaliser. At the resulting corner, Habershon, who had stayed up to take it, saw his cross taken easily by Roberts, who punted it upfield for the unmarked Reay to casually walk the ball into the empty net, a cruel end to Real Reform’s cup hopes. Their two performances were a credit not only to themselves, but also the league.

Report From Birkenhead Sunday League
The Dock came through a tricky replay away at Real Reform in the Cheshire Cup 3rd round thanks to an unbelievable strike from goalkeeper Paul Robinson. With both sides locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes it was up to hero Robbo to fire home from all of 99-yards. Gary Reay was again at the double and that was after Mark Head had given the Hoops the lead from the penalty spot.

(So who did score the last goal – Gary or Robbo? Send in your answers using the comment icon below.)

Goal by Gary Reay (pictured left)

Awaiting Report From Mike Stephens

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Indeed it was that man Reay who opened the scoring on 19 minutes with a fine right foot shot from an acute angle that hit the net when he probably should of squared it to a better placed team mate…..No Chance !

On 26 minutes a Saunders corner was met with the 18st. head of Irene Brute ,who powered his header into the net from 6 miles out! Brute was alleged to be mouthing abuse to the Dock travelling support when celebrating his goal. Words such like "Shut that door" and "Chase me Chase me" were heard.

The conditions at this point where getting worse with heavy showers and gusts of wind making life difficult for both sets of players. The Dock made light of this by playing keep ball and still creating one or two chances up until the half time but the score remained 2.0 at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half, Johnson ended the game as a contest with a fine left foot strike from 20 yards to make it 3.0. With the game in the bag, The Dock replaced Holmes with Hannon on 70 minutes and eleven minutes later the game turned into the Gary Reay show (pictured left).

81 minutes. An exchange of passes from the Dock ended in the ball being crossed low into the Hoylake box were Reay was waiting to control and score for his second of the day and Docks 4th.

82 minutes. Reay is put through but the keeper beat him to it, only for his attempted clearance to rebound off the delighted striker and back into his path and leaving him with the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net. 5.0 and Reays hat trick.

83 minutes. Donaghy replaces Redmond.

84 minutes, Hannon’s cross was missed by the Hoylake defender, who fell over and set the ball up for Reay. He missed with his first attempt and when Donaghy was about to shape to shoot Reay shouted ‘’Moooove’’ and shoved him out the way to score his 4th and Docks 6th of the day. Single mindedness at its highest !

Young Johnson also capped a fine display by netting his 2nd when finding an empty net when Hoylake’s Keeper went A.W.O.L. Referee Darlington blew slightly early with the score Hoylake 0 Dock 7

M.O.M.
The watching Swinging Arm Scout could not of failed to have been impressed by the display of Fat arse himself…….Gary Reay.

Dock will now travel to Ridgewood Park (pitch No: 1) next Sunday when they meet bottom club Heswall Windows in a rearranged league game.

Other Results From Today's Houlihan's BSFL's Premier Division:
Bidston Hotel 0 – 8 Queens Park
Heygarth 5 – 1 Neston Nomads
Heswall Windows 1 – 2 Stirrup Sports & Social
Irby Club P – P Rock Ferry Social (waterlogged pitch)

Report by Mike Stephens

Goal Scorers
Mike McGraa
Mark Head (2)

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