The Dock Association Football Club

Dock travelled to Woodley Sports Centre near Stockport, to take on Queens Bredbury for their second round clash in the Cheshire Sunday Cup. Dock took a strong squad and were well supported by a vociferous following which had set off early from Birkenhead. The fans were well rewarded when the Dockers continued their recent fine form to deservedly go through to the next round.

Both sides started the game somewhat cautiously, with Dock getting to grips with the all-weather surface and the strong wind. Each side had some decent possession, but there were no clear cut chances within the first half hour, with both teams having shots from outside the box, which troubled neither ‘keeper.

Queen’s right back, Needham was struggling with a groin injury, which Dock’s left winger Kynan Mason was trying hard to exploit. Dock forced a corner on 31 minutes, from which they took the lead. Matty Carlin (pictured below) won a towering header on the penalty spot and although Boyle in the home goal saved, Mark Head reacted the quickest and from just inside the six yard box fired home the rebound.

Queen’s then took off the injured Needham who was replaced by Sidebottom, with Liam Millen reverting from right wing to full-back. There then followed a period of scrappy play, with the referee having to produce yellow cards for homers Millen and substitute Sidebottom. A further skirmish just on half time saw Mike McGraa and Queen’s Stanton booked for another flare up. This was Stanton’s second yellow, so his game ended on the stroke of half time with a red card.

HT: Queen’s 0-1 Dock.

Queen’s started with more purpose at the start of the second half and Dempsey tried his luck from 25 yards, but the shot sailed well over Martyn Stevenson’s goal. Dock’s back four, marshalled by captain Paul Byrne, were repelling any attacks Queens had to offer and they were ably assisted by the hard working Steve Owen, and the central midfield pairing of Karl and Jon Clampitt. Makeshift Queen’s full back Mullin was a lucky lad on 50 minutes, when what looked like a foul on Mason went unpunished. It looked like any offence would have produced a second yellow for him.

Dock’s full backs Charters and Wingfield were now managing to push on against the ten men, supplementing a wave of Dock attacks. On 55 minutes, Head spurned a great chance when put through by Jon Clampitt and on 63 minutes, Steve Owen was thwarted by Boyle when clear through after a Head pass. Ian McGraa then came on for Mark Head and on 83 minutes he set up Dock’s second, when he cleverly found Mike McGraa from the byline, for the Dock centre forward to nod home from close range (pictured above celebrating his goal).

Two minutes later, Queen’s pulled a goal back when Millen hit a left footed screamer into the top of Stevenson’s net, after a cross from the impressive Hockley was only half cleared. However, any worries for the Dock support were soon dispelled, when Kynan Mason raced onto a fine through ball form Mike McGraa to slot home the third, whilst Queen’s were pushing for an equalizer.

From the re-start, the referee blew the final whistle, to confirm a fine win for the visitors. After the game, the visiting contingent were invited to the Queen’s local hostelry, where another exciting game at Loftus Road was viewed. Thanks for the hospitality, Queens, and good luck for the rest of the season!

FT: Queen’s 1-3 Dock.

Dock has been drawn away to Rock Ferry in round 3 scheduled for 16th November.

Dock. 4-4-2 (with substitues in brackets).
Stevenson, Charters, Bryne, Carlin, Wingfield, Mason, C. Clampitt, J. Clampitt, Owen, Head (I McGraa), M. McGraa.

Report: PETER WARBURTON
Photos: CHRIS STADING

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The coach for Sundays trip to Queens Bredbury will be at the Joey’s Club at 8:30am Sunday morning and will leave at 8:45 prompt, it will make one pick up at the Starbucks on the A41/M53 junction (was the Little Chef).

Dock began the defence of their Wirral Premier Cup crown, with an emphatic home win against a determined Cat outfit, from the Birkenhead Sunday Division One.

Both sides started at a quick pace on an excellent surface at the Memorial Ground. The referee had to blow up for a few late challenges in the first few minutes, mainly due to the pace of the game, rather than any underhand tactics. From one of these early infringements against the Cat defence, Dock took the lead through a twenty five yard direct free kick, which was expertly drilled home, left footed, by Jon Clampitt (pictured left) on five minutes. This wasn’t to be his only contribution in what turned out to be a Man of the Match performance.

On ten minutes, sloppy defensive play by Dock, gifted the visitors an equalizer, when Carl Clampitt failed to clear when under pressure and the resultant cross squirmed under goalkeeper Martyn Stevenson for the Cat forward to poke home from close range.

On 17 minutes Rob Whyte limped off with a hamstring strain to be replaced by Tom Charters, a substitution which resulted in a tactical change for Dock. Just three minutes later, Dock regained the lead, again from the boot of Jon Clampitt. After a Dock corner was only half cleared by the Cat backline, Clampitt thundered in an unstoppable twenty five yard shot into the top corner.

Both teams continued to entertain the spectators and Martyn Stevenson in the home goal had to pull off two smart saves in quick succession from twenty yard snapshots.

HT: Dock 2-1 The Cat.

Dock started the second half on the front foot with Ian McGraa prominent upfront, ably assisted by the hard working Mark Head (pictured below), who had moved upfront in the re-shuffle from the first substitution. It was the latter who made it 3-1 on the hour mark when Head ran onto a long through ball and exquisitely chipped home form the edge of the box, over the on-rushing Cat ‘keeper. Head was then replaced by Steve Duckers and soon after Dock made their third and last substitution when another hamstring injury, this time for Crotty, saw Ian Brunt come on for the last 20 minutes.

Steve Owen then spurned two glorious chances in the last ten minutes, the second of which hit a post after good work from McGraa. With Cat now visibly tiring, it was no surprise they conceded a penalty with five minutes to go after a trailing leg upended McGraa in the box. Up stepped Jon Clampitt to round off an excellent personal display to fire home his third and Dock’s fourth goal from the spot.

To summarize, an excellent game to watch, which for sixty minutes was evenly contested. The final result, however, was fully deserved by Dock after a hard working display.

FT: Dock 4-1 The Cat.

Dock. 4-4-2 (with substitues in brackets).
Stevenson, Crotty (Brunt), Byrne, Carlin, Wingfield, Owen, C Clampitt, J Clampitt, Head (Duckers), McGraa, Whyte (Charters).

Report: PETER WARBURTON

Rock Ferry Social FC are holding a charity night at Cammell Lairds in the memory of our great friend Jamie Kenyon whom he played for prior to joining Dock AFC. The details are below, and tickets available via any Dock committee member on a first come first served basis.

Dock put in their best display of the season so far to dispense of the visitors from the Wallasey Premier Division in the first round of the Cheshire Cup. Due to injuries and other commitments, Dock could only muster a squad of fourteen for this fixture, but a fine display of passing football gave Dock a much deserved win, without too many scares on their goal.

A bright start from the home side saw the willing running of Keenan Mason and Tom Charters put the visitor on the back foot. Rob Whyte forced the Royal ‘keeper into a fine save on 14 minutes, after good work from Ian McGraa. Dock then went close again when a Whyte cross eluded the goalkeeper, only to drift narrowly wide of the far post. This was followed soon after by another curling effort from Ian McGraa, which again went wide.

It was on the half hour when Poulton produced their first real threat to the Dock goal, but Paul Davies in the home goal smothered the effort. Another fine Dock move on 33 minutes forced the Royal ‘keeper into another fine save. The Dock line was getting concerned as to when the breakthrough would come, for despite having the lion’s share of possession, half time was fast approaching.

However, five minutes before the break, Rob Whyte(pictured below) finished off a fine free kick routine, after Jon Clampitt’s kick was expertly knocked back by Carl Clampitt into his path for an easy tap in. Dock had further chances before the break, notably from Paul Byrne and a Mason shot.

HT: Dock 1-0 Poulton Royal.

Dock started the second half on the front foot, but were dealt an early blow when Rob Whyte pulled up with a hamstring injury. Substitute, Jack Warburton entered the fray and some tactical re-adjustments were made as Mark Head moved forward to join McGraa in attack. Head almost scored within two minutes of the change, forcing a good save from the Poulton goalkeeper. A slack back pass from Tom Wingfield almost gave a gift of an equalizer to Royal, but Paul Davies excelled in winning the ‘one on one’ with the Poulton attacker.

Dock doubled their lead on 67 minutes when Mark Head fired low into the bottom corner, running onto a long through ball from Wingfield. The striker’s colourful description of the goal cannot be printed, but the term ‘belter’ was used within the sentence!! The Clampitt brothers were now dominating possession in the centre of midfield, Jon and Carl running the tempo of the game with central defenders Ian Brunt and Paul Byrne shutting the door on any Royal counter attacks.

Dean Thomas was then introduced as the Dock’s second substitute, replacing the hard working Head. Against the run of play, Royal halved the deficit when a Poulton corner was not cleared, leaving an easy chance from two yards out on 78 minutes. Any worries, however, were dispelled on 80 minutes when Thomas fired in a third goal, almost identical to the previous effort from Head, neatly into the bottom corner.

Dock were now really enjoying their football and a fine fourth goal came, courtesy of a fine passing move involving Carl Clampitt, Warburton and Mason, who set up McGraa on 85 minutes. Dock now go on to round two, when they travel to Queens Bredbury on October 19th.

FT: Dock 4-1 Poulton Royal.

Dock. 4-4-2 (with substitues in brackets).
Davies, Charters, Bryne, Brunt, Wingfield, Mason, C. Clampitt, J. Clampitt, Head (Thomas), Whyte (Warburton), I. McGraa.

Report: Peter Warburton
Pictures: Chris Stading

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Ex Dock player Sean O’Brien is holding his annual charity game in memory of his Dad Mike O’Brien on Sunday 14th September with 2pm kick off at Cammell Lairds Football Club.

Mike was a well known and respected Football fanatic who coached & scouted for Tranmere Rovers, Everton & Blackburn Rovers providing a significant number of young players the opportunity to develop into professional & amateur footballers.

The game is ex Tranmere Rovers versus local legends with regular participants Shaun Garnett, Gary Jones, Lee Jones, Kenny irons, Ian Moore, Chris Malkin, Alex Hay, Chris Camden & Andy Parkinson likely to make an appearance.

The local legends will be a combination of ex league of Wales, West Cheshire & non league players.

As grass roots investment was close to Mikes heart all funds raised will be donated to local youth leagues. The Wirral Mini & Junior, Wallasey & Eastham & district Youth Leagues have all benefitted from donations from the previous games that have been played and well supported.

Following the game auction & raffle will take place in Cammell Lairds club.