The Dock Association Football Club

Dock FC’s players, committee members and supporters would like to offer our deepest sympathy to ex player Steve Platt and his family on their recent loss.

No matter how old we are, losing a mother is one of the deepest sorrows a heart can know. But her goodness, her caring and her wisdom live on, like a legacy of love that will always be with you.

Mrs Platt’s funeral will take place at 12:30pm on Monday 9th December at Landican Cemetery then following at the Moreton Social Club.

Dock proceeded into the semi-final of the Wirral Premier Cup, with a battling performance against The Cheese at a bleak Wallacre Park. In truth, both sides huffed and puffed and the first half was punctuated by very few moments of quality to cheer the touchline fans.

Dock started on the front foot and almost took the lead after five minutes when a short back pass to the ‘keeper was intercepted, but Ian McGraa steered the ball agonizingly wide. Although Dock enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, clear cut chances were at a premium and the Cheese limited Dock to some long range shots, none of which looked likely to trouble the Cheese goalie.

The home side then had a good spell mid-way through the half when first, a dangerous free kick eluded everyone in the six yard box, and then Martyn Stevenson tipped a twenty yard shot over the bar.

Dock responded by taking the lead just after the half hour. Cheese conceded a free kick about forty yards out. Steve Owen lofted a ball to the back post and from Paul Ryan’s header, Ian McGraa was on hand to volley home from close range.

Dock then had a let off when the Cheese centre forward rapped the base of the post just before half time, but survived to go into the break with a slender lead.

HT: The Cheese 0-1 Dock.

The second half followed much the same pattern, with both sides struggling to create any gilt edged chances. Mike Saunders, who came on at half time for the injured McGraa, did have a twenty yarder go just wide after fifty five minutes. Dock then shuffled the pack again, with John Clampitt coming on for Paul Ryan……a move which saw Mark Head return to midfield from full back and Tom Charters moving to the right back berth.

The Cheese was still in the game and again hit the woodwork on seventy minutes following a slick move through midfield. Another shot went just wide of Martyn Stevenson’s upright and the fans began to sense it was the Dock’s day.

Matty Carlin was introduced with ten minutes left, in place of Mark Head as Dock continued to repel any further attacks from the home side.

If The Cheese were beginning to think it wasn’t their day, this was proven on eighty five minutes when the referee gave Dock a soft penalty kick. The Cheese centre half did seem to play the ball, but the referee decided the robust challenge was outside the rules of the game and pointed to the spot. To compound matters, he sent off the Cheese centre back for protesting too vociferously!

Luke Hughes then strode up and coolly slotted home the spot kick to secure the victory for Dock.

FT: The Cheese 0-2 Dock.

Dock. 4-4-2 (with substitues in brackets).
Stevenson, Crotty, Irvine, Head (Carlin), Wingfield, , Hughes, Owen, Charters, Ryan (Clampitt), Kenyon, I. McGraa (Saunders).

More Photos

Report: Peter Warburton
Photos: Chris Stading

Dock came away from Woodchurch with all three points in a hard fought game, thanks to goals from Ian McGraa and a Chris Barrow (pictured left) double.

The game was played out on a sticky pitch, which both teams found hard to master, and as such, there was little by the way of any flowing or quality passing football.

With heavy tackles going in from both teams, the referee did well to keep a lid on what was fast becoming an attritional derby game.

Woodchurch had the better of the chances, but Martyn Stevenson in the Dock goal was equal to anything the home side threw at him.

From Dock’s best move of the half, they took the lead just before the half-time break. The ball was shifted from the back and through midfield up Dock’s right flank and Paul Ryan’s cross was finished expertly by Ian McGraa, who nipped in front of his marker to steer the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

HT: Woodchurch Utd 0-1 Dock.

Dock pressed early in the second half, and doubled their advantage on 48 minutes, when Woodchurch gave away a free kick some 30 yards out. Mark Head’s pinpoint cross was met by Chris Barrow, who jumped head and shoulders above the defenders to power his header into the back of the net.

Woodchurch then rallied and Dock had to withstand some heavy pressure, but the back four, marshaled superbly by Ian Irving and Shaun Crotty repelled anything that Woodchurch threw at them.

Chris Barrow helped himself to his second of the day when he beat the offside trap and had a clear run on goal from 40 yards out in the 80th minute. He slotted home superbly after drawing the ‘keeper from his line.

Woodchurch were gifted a consolation two minutes later when an innocuous shot bobbled just before Martyn Stevenson and crept over the line……..a goal very similar to Stan Collymore’s at Blackburn Rovers!!

Dock had even more chances to extend their lead, notably efforts from Tom Charters and Luke Hughes (pictured below), but they were unable to convert.

It was a good team performance in tricky conditions, with Mark Head, Chris Barrow and Steve Owen putting in sterling work. There were also good contributions from substitutes John Clampitt and Matty Carlin when they were introduced in the second half.

FT: Woodchurch Utd 1-3 Dock.

Dock. 4-4-2 (with substitues in brackets).
Stevenson, Head, Wingfield (Clampitt), Irving, Crotty, Hughes, Charters, Ryan (Craven), Owen, I. McGraa (Carlin), Barrow.

More Photos

Report: Peter Warburton
Pictures: Chris Stading

No winners this week, but two people did have 5 out of 6, unlucky!!!

Dock turned round a half time deficit and put in a rousing second half display, to overcome Stirrup for the third time this season. The Wirral Premier Cup game was played out in bright conditions after heavy overnight rain made the Borough Road pitch wet but playable.

Stirrup started brightly and forced Martyn Stevenson in the home goal into three sharp saves within the first 18 minutes, to keep the scores level. When the breakthrough did finally come, it was in somewhat controversial circumstances. The officials gave a throw in to Stirrup 30 yards out, when the ball had clearly touched a Stirrup player last. However, there can be nothing taken away from the resultant shot from 25 yards out by Griffiths, which flew into the top of Stevenson’s net, giving the Dock ‘keeper no chance.

Dock then countered with chances of their own, notably for McGraa (pictured left) and Barrow, but were unable to breach the Stirrup goal. Stirrup also had some half chances up until the break, but at half time the score remained at 0-1.

HT: Dock 0-1 Stirrup Sports & Social.

Dock started the second half on the front foot and took just five minutes to equalize through a Ryan close range header. Mark Head and Ian McGraa created the chance with some fine interplay and after McGraa’s shot hit the post, Paul Ryan was on hand to head home the ball from close range.

Dock took the lead three minutes later, in strange circumstances, from the spot. After they should have been awarded a penalty for a blatant foul in the box, a Stirrup defender inexplicably picked up the ball whilst still in play. The referee had no choice but to blow up for hand ball and Mark Head smashed home the kick.

Dock had a let off on the hour when Mark Head headed a goalbound effort off the line and immediately, Dock swept upfield to score a third. Ian McGraa controlled the ball on the edge of the box, before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

On 75 minutes, Mark Head added a second penalty after McGraa was felled in the Stirrup box, which also saw Stirrup goalscorer Griffiths sent off for his protestations.

Dock controlled the remainder of the game and had some more chances to add to their tally, but the Stirrup ‘keeper held firm.

To summarize, a proverbial game of two halves for Dock, but credit to Stirrup for a spirited display, especially when down to ten men.

FT: Dock 4-1 Stirrup Sport & Social.

Dock. 4-4-2 (with substitues in brackets).
Stevenson, Crotty, Irving, Head, Wingfield, , Hughes (Warburton), Owen, Charters, Ryan (Craven), Barrow, I. McGraa (Redmond).

More Pictures

Report: Peter Warburton
Pictures: Chris Stading

Numbers 1 to 19 will be used next week

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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Panoramic view of pitch

More Photos

Report: Peter Warburton
Pictures: Chris Stading