Dock and second placed Rock Ferry shared the points at a windswept Memorial Ground on Borough Road. Both sides were finding the conditions difficult to master and many passes went astray leading to a scrappy first half with neither goalkeeper being unduly stretched.
Dock suffered an early blow when Colin O’Hanlon limped off after only ten minutes with a calf injury, to be replaced by Shaun Crotty.
Rock Ferry did have the lion’s share of possession, but it was Dock’s Tom Charters who had the half’s best chance, but he unfortunately slipped when through on goal towards the end of the first period.
HT: Dock 0-0 Rock Ferry Social.
The second half started in the same fashion, with the wind still causing problems for both sides. The Rock Ferry left winger, Josh Hughes was a constant threat with his direct pace and dribbling and Rock Ferry took the lead on 65 minutes when Dock failed to defend another raid down their right and the Rock Ferry centre forward finished from close range.
Rock Ferry thought they had doubled their advantage on 83 minutes, but after a header came back off the post, the close range tap in was disallowed for offside.
Dock took full advantage of the near miss and swept upfield from the resultant free kick. Luke Hughes played in substitute Mike McGraa, who with his back to goal, turned the defender inside out, before firing home low to the ‘keeper’s left hand from ten yards.
Both teams then had chances to win it at the death. Mike Saunders for Dock was one on one with the keeper after springing the offside trap, only for his shot to be brilliantly saved one handed by the Rock Ferry stopper. Rock Ferry then had a great chance in the final minute, but their striker’s shot was too weak and Dock cleared their lines, before the referee blew for full time.
In summary, given the conditions and chances created by both teams, a draw was a fair result.
FT: Dock 1-1 Rock Ferry Social.
Dock. 3-5-2 (with substitutes in brackets).
Davies, O’Hanlon (Crotty), Irving, Byrne (Clampitt), Duckers, Wingfield, , Hughes, Owen, Charters (Saunders), Barrow, Kenyon (M. McGraa).
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Report: Peter Warburton
Pictures: Chris Stading
