The Dock Association Football Club

Dock reached The Wirral Premier Cup Final for the fifth time in ten years on Sunday but made rather hard work of it in a definite game of two halves. The return of ‘The Goose’, who was rather upset that Pleavo got last weeks Man of the Match award, ensured that we were not too far behind at the break because we were not at the races for much of the first 45mins.

The Goose was in action as early as the sixth minute when he come out on top in a one on one situation after a O’Hanlon slip let The Brow forward in on goal. Jamie Kenyon quickly replied with a shot that was saved by the Brow keeper after being put in by the lively Mark Head. Almost immediately after this , Liam Simon was making a saving tackle in his own box as a dangerous ball was played in across the face of goal.

Quarter of an hour on the clock…….Enter Brunty! Deep in our own half, playing tippy- tappy football, Brunty had a chance to get rid but elected to give it to O’Hanlon. Vidic duly lost the ball and we were on the back foot as the cross came in, Goose done well to save the resulting shot but could only parry into the path of the oncoming Brow forward who could hardly miss from two yards out. 0-1.

Ten minutes later Brunty is booked for taking his opponent from behind (make your own joke up). Overhearing a touchline conversation, it transpires that Brunty blamed Woody for the reason that they were ten minutes late arriving for the game. Bit difficult to believe when Brunty was driving and was late in from Garlands the previous night.

On the half hour mark it was nearly curtains as The Brow almost made it 2-0. As the forward was put through, he evaded the attention of Paul Byrne and was set to score until ‘The Goose’ came to the rescue with a close range save.

It was going downhill fast for The Dock and we were in need of the half time whistle as ‘The Hairdryer’ was getting ready to put his arm around the shoulder of a few of the players and offer some words of encouragement to the others.

Ten minutes before the half, Brow again had a chance from 15 yards but shot wide and five minutes later, Liam Simon, who was struggling with an injury, put himself on the line with a great tackle after some comical defending by his team mates almost set The Brow up again.

Right on the 45mins, Saunders had a run halted by a foul on the edge of The Brow box resulting in a free kick in a dangerous position. Mark Head stepped up an blazed over ! Summed the whole half up.

After a gentle team talk it was back to it but ‘The Goose had to claw the ball back into his grasp after he saved but let it slip towards the goal line when he dropped it. A minute later Josh Dures put a ball through for Reay to do something with but he and the keeper both thought it was for the other player and it harmlessly went out for a goalkick.

Dock earned themselves a throw in inside the Brow half in the 50th minute. Byrne took it and found Brunty’s deft , cushioned lay off to Saunders, who in turn flipped it across the box where Reay man was lurking and he headed home from one yard.

Dock got hold of the ball straight from the re-start and Saunders put Mark Head in with a clear run at goal. ‘The Head ‘drew the keeper and finished superbly keeping his composure to make it two goals for The Dock in less than a minute.

Saunders was having one of his little spells as he put Jamie Kenyon in but the ball just ran on to the keeper. One wonders what happened in last summer’s week long trail with ‘The Arm’ and why it never came off for Mick. It is a remarkable turn around for the lad when it seemed set for him to leave for the European giants, maybe next year, maybe not.

Dock had a grip on the game by now, although Liam Simon still had to be on his toes as he somehow got a foot in as the ball was pulled back across the Dock box to a forward who was lining up a shot on goal. On 85 minutes, the same player injured himself with another saving tackle but shrugged it off for the cause.

Reay man crossed for Kenyon with a minute left but he couldn’t get there and in the resulting five minutes of injury time, Dock had a bit of defending to do as The Brow gave it one last shot. Just as The Brow player was shaping to shoot from the edge of the box, Liam Simon, again, put in a great tackle to avert danger with Tony ‘ The Wardrobe’ Sample doing likewise to put the ball out of play from the resulting loose ball.

This proved to be the last action and it is left to Brunty to organise the Cup Final suits and Cup Final appearance on Top of the Pops. Dave V. Lately could come in handy after all!

Man of the Match :- Ian Brunt…….But closely followed by ‘The Goose’ and the outstanding Liam Simon.

Report: Mike Stephens
Photos: Chris Stading

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Goals:
Josh Dures
Jamie Kenyon

A quick return to action against Heygarth , this time in the league, and once again it was a spicy encounter with no quarter asked or given.

‘The Goose’ pulled out of the game when he inadvertently poked himself in the eye when applying mascara getting ready for a Saturday night out with Brunty and Day V. Lately. Not to worry for long…. as we secured the services of Dave Pleavin in between the sticks and he showed his class in answering the call and producing a solid performance.

It was a good positive start from the Dock and in the opening moments Mark Head fluffed a shot when well placed and Brunty headed over from a Paul Byrne cross. Heygarth answered this by forcing Pleavin to save a shot from outside the box and catching the back four square on occasions with balls over the top. Mark Head was into the action again on 10 minutes and he showed some good skills down the right ending in him shooting past the post.

Heygarth took the lead after 12 minutes; rather fortunately, after a free kick awarded to the Dock in their own half was taken by Liam Simon. He failed to get enough distance on it and the ball fell to a Heygarth player who launched it first time over the top into the path of his centre forward. With the Dock back four flat footed, the forward slotted past the despairing dive of Pleavo. You can count the mistakes Liam Simon has made on the fingers of one hand since he arrived at the club, so no worries there.

Dock replied with Kenyon shooting over the bar when he just couldn’t quite get over it enough and the same player dragged a shot wide after some good work to set himself up on the half hour mark. Pleavo was called into action when he bravely won a header on the edge of his box with the centre forward bearing down on him and on 36 minutes, Head put in a tremendous cross that no one got on the end of.

Dock won a free kick deep into Heygarth’s half and Hammond (slaughtered) with Holmes took it short. Holmes advanced across the Heygarth 18 yard line and unleashed a rocket of a left foot drive that skimmed the top of the bar with the keeper rooted to the spot. Just before the half time break a quick throw in from Holmes found Gary Reay inside the box. Backing into the defender, Reayman turned and shot against the outside of the post. This proved to be the last action of the half and 1.0 to Heygarth at the break it was.

Lee Hammond was reprimanded at half time when he produced a hip flask full of whisky from his shorts and Brunty was demanding Snowballs and Babycham from physio Mick Reay.

Early into the second half Hammond was replaced by Josh Dures. It didn’t take long for Dures to make his mark as he headed home from a corner moments after entering the frey to make it 1.1. On the hour mark Reayman was clear on goal with Kenyon alongside him but the hitman elected to shoot high, wide and not so handsome. This marked the start of some sustained pressure from the Dock as Dures was causing problems and the energetic Donaghy, unluckily, hit a post. That said, Pleavo still had to save with his legs as the Heygarth forward got free from the otherwise commanding O’Hanlon.

On the 67th minute, Dock had a clear penalty appeal turned down when a handball stopped Reayman from heading at goal from 8 yards out. A minute later, Pleavo gathered a corner and launched a kick down field to put us on the attack. Reay man guided it on to Kenyon who took it in his stride and finished calmly to make it 2.1.

It was a rather subdued next 10 minutes until Dures made a heavy challenge right on the Heygarth line that they were not best pleased with to say the least ! Two minutes later an off the ball incident sparked a 21 man brawl in the middle of the pitch. I say 21 man brawl because as I was watching it from the touchline, I felt a tap on my shoulder and it was Brunty wanting to introduce me to his new mate, Dave V. Lately! I told Lately to do one and booted Brunty back onto the pitch to join his team mates. Once the game restarted Brunty was fouled to spark another confrontation that took the flames to another level.

Heygarth looked dangerous as they pressed for an equaliser and up the other end Kenyon shot tamely at the keeper as the clock ticked down. 88 minutes had elapsed as the Dock won a free kick on the edge of the Heygarth box but a Mark Head effort hit the wall and ran to safety. Deep into injury time Heygarth had a similar scenario and their effort hit Sean Holmes on the head and out.

As the final whistle blew there was ‘handbags’ and spilt make up as the teams ‘shook hands’ and Brunty found the shade of lippy that he has been on the lookout for ages !

Man of the Match: – Dave Pleavin for a solid and assured performance. He is always welcome at the Dock.

Report: Mike Stephens
Photos: none (I was at Anfield)

Not much of a report for this one as I was on Physio duty, but one thing was for certain, this was a great result for the club and may go a long, long way in setting up a successful end to the season.

The mood of the dressing room was that we had a job to do and we were quietly confident of doing just that. Conceding a goal on the stroke of half time from a penalty did not deter the boys as Reayman tapped in from two yards as a Dures header rebounded off the bar early into the second half. Woodchurch regained the lead in about the 70th minute but ‘The Head’ equalised with a shot that took a slight deflection on the way in.

Drama in the 90thminute as Kenyon was brought down by the keeper and a penalty was awarded. As the keeper was sent off and the replacement keeper readied, Lee Hammond had a nervous wait until the kick was taken. Fear not as Hammond duly scored to send the Dock into the next round.

Results elsewhere put a completely different outlook on the season and recent draws for us now seem like decent results. On to league duty on Sunday against Heygarth and the same commitment is required for this game and indeed all the remaining games.

Man of the match. My mate Brunty played well but again Liam Simon was quality and is in a rich vein of form. Long may it continue.

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An entertaining game with the spoils shared in a 2.2 draw at a freezing Levers. After last week’s battle with Heygarth in the Cup it was back to league action against Rock Ferry and 3 points were a must if we had aspirations of hanging on to our title. As pointed out to me by Chris (David Bailey) Stading….note the two Rock Ferry scorers….Graves and Coffin! Was this the last nail in our particular Coffin? Time will soon tell on that one but a herculean effort is now required to retain our title.

Dock started in usual fashion….Sean Holmes booked after 2 minutes! Goose rolling the ball out on the edge of his area to someone who bears no resemblance, in looks or style, whatsoever to Franz Beckenbauer or indeed Franco Baresi…..Brunty! ‘The Large Headed One ‘was adamant that he ‘’never asked for it ‘’ I beg to differ.

Goose made amends after 7 minutes when he stood up well to save from close range as The Rock got down the Dock left and on 10 minutes, Sean Holmes showed us what he is good at by jinking across the box and sending in a cross that just eluded the stretching Miguel Saunders.

After a slow start Dock got into their stride as Reayman got to the line and pulled it back for the incoming Josh Dures whose shot was deflected over the bar for a corner. From that corner, Sean Holmes sent in a cross that deflected off a defenders hand into the path of Timmy Bigland who lashed it into the net from 6 yards out.

Lee Hammond, who was clearly drunk, sent in a cross that hit Brunty on the head (couldn’t miss really ) that forced a smart save from the keeper and from the resulting corner ‘The Wardrobe’ got into the act by causing some problems. (Did you know that there are large posters of Tony on display at IKEA and M.F.I. pointing towards the furniture department?)

After 25 mins Liam Simon had to head off the line smartly after Brunty let a lad in through the backdoor (usual stuff from him) and a minute later, Simon again had to get a tackle in to save the day as the ball was bouncing around dangerously in the Dock’s box. On the half hour mark a good break by Bigland found Holmes down the right but he was fouled by the full back. Hammond took the free kick and he found ‘The ‘Drobe’ who headed down to the ‘Master Marksman’ but for once he hit the outstretched boot of the keeper when he should of scored.

As the game was nearing half time, there seemed to be no danger when a speculative lob headed towards the Dock net. Wronnnnng ! Goose somehow let it go in! He may even have helped it in on the way! 1.1 at half time. Goose…. You Tool!

I missed the first 15 mins of the 2nd half as I was on Dock business with Hon.Tres. (At the tea hut ) but I rejoined the action on 60 minutes when Bigland broke into the area to square to Saunders who fired over from 10 yards with the keeper flying out. A minute later Bigland again was in the thick of it when he found Reayman who shot wide. It was on 66 minutes when a Liam Simon free kick from deep found the head of Dures who looped a header towards the far post and in. 2.1 to the Dock.

Rock Ferry responded well as they attacked down the Dock right and as Goose came out, he saw the shot skip wide of his post. On 70 minutes, The Goose atoned for his error on half time when he saved well and got up to punch clear the resulting cross. Further pressure from The Rock came as a shot narrowly shaved the post.

Up the other end a Dures shot was blocked and fell to Saunders who put it over the bar from two yards at the near post. (If I am not mistaken, he is playing for a move to you know who!) It was end to end stuff now and another goal was on the cards.

That goal arrived on 80 minutes; unfortunately it was at the wrong end. Rock centre forward, Coffin, smartly laid the ball off to his winger and his cross was met by Coffins head that found the net with a smartly taken effort. 2.2

In the 85th minute, Hammond (sober by now) had a corner headed off the line and a minute later Jamie Kenyon shot wide as the keeper was advancing. 2 minutes after this, Brunty was flattened by my mate Boydy, who was duly sent off for his misdemeanour. Brunty was replaced a minute later by Donaghy and he left the pitch to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. Everyone agreed that it was Manager McGraa’s best decision of the day! That was the last action of the day and 2.2 it was.

Man of the Match :- Ian Brunt…..(Liam Simon ran him close with some expert defending.)

Report to follow

Goals
Lee Hammond
Gary Reay

Too dark and wet to take decent photos.

65 participants can purchase a Dock Football Club FA Cup envelope (All Dock FC Players and Committee Members are expected to purchase at least one envelope). Each envelope will cost £45.00, they can be paid for in full or by instalments throughout the season (To Chris Stading or any committee member). The total amount (£45) must be paid by the Friday before the FA Cup Final.

The names of Dock FC and the last 64 teams in this years FA Cup will be placed in blank envelopes and sealed. Each participant is then asked to randomly pick a blank envelope; they will print their name across the seal and also sign the front as acceptance that they will pay the full cost of the envelope. All signed envelopes will then be held in a safe place until the Friday before the FA Cup final.

Prize Money Will be Paid Out as Follows:

1. Winner £500.00
2. Runner Up £300.00
3. Semi Finalist £150.00
4. Semi Finalist £150.00
5. Quarter Finalist £75.00
6. Quarter Finalist £75.00
7. Quarter Finalist £75.00
8. Quarter Finalist £75.00
9. 5th Round Losers £45.00
10. 5th Round Losers £45.00
11. 5th Round Losers £45.00
12. 5th Round Losers £45.00
13. 5th Round Losers £45.00
14. 5th Round Losers £45.00
15. 5th Round Losers £45.00
16. 5th Round Losers £45.00
17. Dock FC £45.00

Total Paid Out £1,805.00
All monies raised go towards the running of the Dock Football Club.

Goals
Mark Head (2)
Report to follow

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Dock travelled to Wallasey for this 4thRd tie against a strong and up for it Big House who had accounted for some notable scalps in previous rounds. Our Wallasey contingent translated and showed us the local customs and a large crowd gathered in anticipation of a pulsating encounter.

Ian Brunt demanded showdown talks with manager McGraa as he felt unfairly singled out for being the scapegoat for last week’s shambolic defending. The talks must have gone well as he was shifted into midfield and the ‘The ‘Drobe’ was dropped to the bench!

Dock were on the attack as early as the first minute as a Gary Reay through ball put Mick Saunders in on goal only to be thwarted with a last gasp tackle in the box. Shaun Holmes saw the yellow card for dissent after two minutes, (rather harsh) and on six minutes a Josh Dures cross field pass to Jamie Kenyon saw his cross just elude the incoming Reay. One minute later ‘The Goose’ turned over a long range effort over the bar for a corner. Under pressure for a minute or so, Dock defended well in response to three corners on the trot and dealt with the threat by getting solid blocks and good defensive headers in to clear any danger.

A speculative ball over the top on eight minutes left ‘The Goose’ in no man’s land as he came to clear but the Big House forward lobbed over the bar. Four minutes later a similar ball split the Dock defence and Colin O’Hanlon had to clear of the line as the Big House player rounded ‘The Goose’ and steered his effort goal wards.

Fifteen minutes had elapsed as Brunty put in an almighty challenge to break up a Big House attack and set the Dock away. It was end to end stuff and a frantic first quarter with big tackles coming in from both sides.

Mick Saunders found himself in space in between the lines and his surging run found Reay who scuffed his shot wide and soon after that, The Big House forward was put through with a hint of offside, but not given, and Liam Simon averted the danger with a brilliant saving tackle. On the twenty minute mark Reay lobbed the keeper but wide of the post. A minute later another surging run from Saunders stretched the Big House defence but came to nothing.

Josh Dures had put his mark on the game with a series of big tackles and probing passes but on the half hour mark he surpassed even this with a goal of the highest quality. Liam Simon took a free kick towards Brunty’s massive ‘Heed’, he duly won the header towards Dures who was on the edge of the box and he produced a brilliant overhead kick to make it 1.0 to the Dock.

With the opening goal in the bag the Dock turned the screw with a series of heavy challenges and vital blocks with O’Hanlon, Dures, Simon, Hammond and Brunt all prominent. Just before the half time whistle Reay turned the centre half to put Shaun Holmes in only for him to shoot at the keeper. Brunty attempted a flying header at the ball only to miss completely and land face down in the mud to be called ‘The Flying Pig’ and Reay had a shot smothered by the Big House keeper as the whistle ended a good entertaining half of football.

Dock started the second half as they ended the first with Brunt spraying a 40 yard pass to the feet of Shaun Holmes that had everyone doing a double take to see who had passed it! Holmes got down the left again to cause problems with a shot that came off the goalie but with no one following up

Mark Head replaced Mick Saunders on the hour mark and minutes later Big House scored. O’Hanlon challenged for the ball with the Big House forward and the ball unluckily broke to the forward who shot home to scenes of huge delight from the home support.

In the 66thminute, as a result of the challenge, O’Hanlon was replaced by ‘The Drobe’ The opposition forward was also replaced as a result of tangling with Vidic but the goal had given Big House new vigour and ‘The Goose’ had to be alert as Paul ‘Old Trafford’ Byrne headed over him toward goal but the keeper gathered on the line under pressure. The Big House just upped the ante a notch and were looking dangerous as they pressed for a winner.

75 minutes had elapsed when Iggy McGraa replaced the hard working Jamie Kenyon and a tense last quarter was in store as both sides could win it. 78 minutes had gone when Reay shot at the keeper and the rebound was bundled round the post for a corner. A minute later a Head cross to the far post had Iggy stretching to make contact as he put it past the post.

As we prepared for extra time, Dock were awarded a free kick on the halfway line and Wallaseyan Lee Hammond drilled it towards ‘The Drobe’ at the far post. He went up with the keeper who spilled it and in the resulting scramble the ball ended up in front of The Reayman… one yard out! The outcome was inevitable and Reayman sent us into the semi –finals with a much acclaimed winner.

All in all, I think we shaded it but credit goes to a very good Big House side who gave as good as they got and they can feel aggrieved with the late winner.

Man of the match. A few in contention….Brunty, (seriously) Saunders and Vidic all done well but for the goal and all round work, graft and tackles, Josh Dures gets the vote.

After being without a fixture since the 21st of November, Dock lined up for a league game against old adversaries Bidston at a cold and windswept Valley Road. No less than a victory would be acceptable to keep in touch with the leaders as The Dock lay in 3rd place, albeit with two games in hand, this was a must win game.

Colin O’Hanlon pulled up in the warm up and this led to a change of plan with Brunty partnering Tony Sample in the heart of the defence. Whilst I do not want to point to this change as the root cause to the disastrous start we had, you have to say that being 2.0 down after 5 minutes there must be someone to blame !

Brunty was pathetic ….. For the first goal, he was showing the Bidston players his new tattoo on his arm when Gully fired in with a spectacular overhead kick to make it 1.0 after a minute. The second came as Brunty was adjusting his Snood around his neck and the Bidston lad slotted home from 10 yards. 2.0 down after 5 minutes ! Then he starts doing Cruyff turns in his own box sending McGraa into meltdown on the touchline.

It wasn’t until the 15th minute that we had our first shot in anger when Griffiths shot wide from distance. Two minutes later Shaun Holmes produced a nice turn and drilled the ball home from the right hand side of the box to get us back in the game at 1.2. We started to get a bit of a grip now in difficult conditions and on 21 minutes Mark Head shot over the bar after good work down the left by Griffo. The equalizer came in the 26th minute when a Head cross was nodded down at the far post by Griffo to be slammed home by Reayman for his first of the day.

Straight after the re-start a Shaun Holmes cross was mis-hit by Josh Dures and the ball bounced harmlessly into the keepers arms. The Bidston still had time to trouble the Dock defence and Liam Simon had to be alert to cover the back four on a couple of occasions. Just after the half hour mark Reayman shot against the keeper after a good ball by ‘Six fingers’ and just on the half time whistle, Griffo shot over from 25 yards.

The second half was a cagy affair and The Goose had to tip over as ‘The Wardrobe’ was dispossessed on the edge of his area. Tony was reduced to being a ‘Bedside Cabinet’ as a consequence of playing alongside Brunty, although to be fair he had ,by now, bucked his idea’s up.

Hammond had to clear a dangerous cross to the Dock’s far post on the hour mark and this served as a marker because 2 minutes later Bidston made it 3.2 as Gully slotted past the Goose’s dive for a well taken goal.

Saunders replaced the injured Griffiths on 66 minutes and it was a Saunders cross that the keeper spilled to the feet of Reayman, the master marksman, who duly tucked it home to make it 3.3 with 15 minutes to go.

On 80 minutes, Dock were awarded a free kick 40-50 yards out and virtually on the touchline. Lee Hammond drilled it into the box, low and rising, just under the wind and had the words ‘’head me into the goal’’ written all over it. Josh Dures did just that to cap a fine performance to make it 4.3.

There was enough time for Reayman to get his hat-trick when he pounced on a loose ball six yards out and slotted past the keeper to make it 5.3.

A win is a win and after being 2.0 down after five minutes away at The Bidston you would of took a point. A bit of character was shown and that puts us in a handy position for the run in and we still have a game in hand.

Finally…..Brunty not only resembles Boris Johnson…. he also plays like him!

Man of the Match : Boris Johnson. Mentions for Griffiths ,Dures, Simon and Holmes. Oh, nearly forgot The Reayman !

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