The Dock Association Football Club

Dock responded to recent disappointing results in emphatic style by recording a devastating 7.0 victory over promoted Parkside.

In the last of the midweek games and over a quarter of the league season gone! Dock sit top of the league with a record of played 6, won 4, lost 1, drawn 1. Would we have taken this at the start of the season? Yes…..No…..Maybe….?

We would have taken top of the league? ….. Yes, no question….. but I believe the points dropped were avoidable and disappointing but on reflection, we are a team in transition and our “Quantity not Quality” squad fully justified as we have been fully stretched to the limit in terms of getting teams out whilst dealing with injuries, holidays and suspensions etc.

Reay man opened the scoring on 5 minutes after a raking trademark cross field pass from left back, Lee Hammond, who found the advancing right back Paul Byrne who in turn provided a first time cross for Gary Reay to head home.

It was again Paul Byrne, finding himself deep into Parkside’s half, who provided the cross for a Parkside defender to head into his own net and it was 2.0 after 20 minutes. Ten minutes later, Lee Hammond lashed in a free kick from 25 yards to make it 3.0 and 4 minutes after that the same player took a clever corner to Iggy McGraa, who was loitering with intent on the edge of the area and he curled it into the top corner to make it 4.0.

Josh Duress pulled up with a groin strain and was replaced with Alan McDonal just before the half and just on the whistle, Iggy made it 5.0 with his second of the night after a cross from the ever improving Charlie McInnes.

The second half was played out in typical fashion when a side is 5.0 up but the good thing was we never conceded as we moved down the gears. Parkside had a bit more of the ball and had a couple of opportunities but Dock found the net on 52 minutes after a nice through ball from Alan McDonal into the path of Iggy McGraa who blasted it in from 22 yards to claim a superb hat trick.

With 5 minutes remaining Lee Hammond belted in a penalty for his second of the night and Dock’s 7th and an evening’s work was complete.

Man of the Match: Iggy McGraa.

I am glad to report that Brunty has called off his Fatwa against me and things have returned to normal. He has requested that I no longer extract the Michael and this I respect.

Goal scorers pictured left (Iggy McGraa, Gary Reay, Lee Hammond)

Report by Mike Stephens

Venue: Levers Sports Ground, Wirral
29th August 2010

Can’t really dress this one up. Dock were rubbish from first whistle to last! Time to get back on track against Parkside on Thursday.

On another note…..I have been threatened and warned by Brunty not to write anything about him in the match reports again or he will do me in! It saddens me when I can no longer write about this magnificent footballer and maybe, on reflection, he will lift this harsh sanction. I think he’s got a mood on ‘cos he’s getting kicked off the G.M.T.V. sofa soon.

Man of the match : Ian Brunt (for them)

My thanks to Gary Reay for the Man of the Match nomination.

Report: Mike Stephens
Pictures: Chris Stading

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Clubs looking for players
Birkenhead News FC (formerly Swinging Arm) are looking for a few experienced league players. Contact Kenny Clarke, kennisco407@hotmail.com

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This mid-week fixture saw Dock take on old adversaries Bidston Hotel and they didn’t disappoint in making it a tough night for the Dock, as is always the way with this side.

Again, with changes to the team that took to the field against Heygarth, Dock had the luxury of leaving master marksman Gary Reay on the bench along with Mark Head, Bernaaaaard Holmes and Charlie McInnes. In came Paul Howells for his full debut, Matty Carlin, after his Shandy bender in Chester, Shaun ‘Taz’ Holmes, the wonderful Ian Brunt and the much anticipated return of last season’s Player of the year, Johno.

Johno lasted barely 5 minutes with a recurrence of a previous injury ( limp wrist ) and was replaced by Javier Head. Dock went one down on 12 minutes and replied 8 minutes later through skipper for the night Nemaja Vidic (pictuerd left). The Goose pulled off a couple of good saves to keep the scores level and on 35 minutes, Mark Head netted from a cross by Tony Sample to make it 2.1. Disappointingly, Dock let the Bidston in for an equaliser five minutes before the half and 2.2 it was at the whistle.

Just as it looked like Dock were getting a foothold early in the second half, Bidston scored to make it 3.2 and less than a minute after the re- start, had an opportunity to increase their lead but shot past the post. Dock had The Goose to thank seconds later, when he pulled off a great save to keep the Bidston at bay.

Bidston had a man sent off on 60 minutes and were now content to sit in and defend and hit the Dock on the break. This they done well and had creativity and pace in their ranks to cause Dock more than enough problems.

Jamie Kenyon was replaced by Gary Reay who had to be pulled out of the chippy over the road and had to go round the long way as he couldn’t get his fat arse over the gate. 15 minutes remained when Javier was replaced by Prince Charles.

The Dock piled on the pressure looking for the equaliser but were susceptible to leaving the back door open ( Brunty territory! ) Howler dragged a shot wide, Reay man was denied by a last ditch tackle and ‘The Wardrobe’ fired over the bar when he should of scored.

The 90 minutes were up when Bidston broke and caught the Dock out. With a clear sight of goal and the Goose not in it, the Bidston forward sliced his shot wide from ten yards out. It was an incredible miss but because it was with seconds to go and Bidston were 3.2 up they made light of it and seemed set for the points.

Dock were awarded a free kick 35 to 40 yards out with the Bidston screaming for the full time whistle. Up stepped Lee Hammond to put it into the danger area. It was that dangerous, that it sailed over everyone, evaded the goalkeepers despairing dive, hit the post and went in!

Bidston had two players dismissed for arguing with the ref, Simon Muir, presumably enquiring how he could play 2 minutes injury time when there was 3 substitutions made for each side, a sending off and a couple of lengthy stoppages for treatment to players.

The whistle blew seconds after the re-start and the Dock had salvaged a point. Let’s get it right, we never played well but kept going until the end, as was the case last Sunday, goals in the 70th and 86th minutes won the day and a goal in the 92nd minute saved the day last night.

Man of the match….Ian Brunt. ( with The Goose a close second for a couple of vital saves )

Report Mike Stephens

Other Results From Tonight
New Ferry Wirral Hotel 2-3 Woodchurch AFC
Queens Park 2-1 Heygarth
The Tower 2-4 Rock Ferry Social
Stirrup 4-0 Brow

Former owner of the Dock Hotel and ex Dock AFC Chairman Joey Craven sadly passed away this morning. Dock AFC would like to send our deepest condolences to the family and friends.

Dock AFC would like to send our best wishes and good luck for a speedy recovery to Tommy Dunne of Queens Park FC following his motorcycle accident.

Dock made it three from three with a late rally in the second half to secure maximum points against a strong and well organised Heygarth side. The advantage of having a large squad was vindicated as Manager McGraa had only thirteen players to select from for this fixture. The main reason for this was that Ross Carragher held an All Male Speed-Dating night in Birmingham in which Ross and Johno found out that they were compatible with each other but Ross’s Uni mates threw a strop and a fight broke out. Another Uni puff, Matty Carlin, had three pints of larger shandy and cried off and Saunders has got a gob on because his injury has scuppered his big money move to The Mighty Arm.

The only legitimate absentee was Ian Brunt (more later) The first half passed the Dock by and they were clearly not at the races although they could point to a clear penalty claim that was turned down by F.I.F.A. referee Mr. George Lester. The Goose pulled off two vital saves to keep the score level and Tony ‘The Wardrobe’ Sample was like Papa Bouba Diop in the midfield winning vital tackles and headers and holding the Dock together until they found a rhythm.

With five minutes to the half time whistle the Dock conceded to a surging run down the left and once the ball was pulled back inside the six yard box, it was left to the Heygarth striker to find the net from close range.

Early in the second half the Dock had another strong penalty appeal turned down and it was starting to look like one of those days. On 55 mins, the injured Tommy Hunt was replaced by Lord Charles McInnes and on 62 mins, Iggy McGraa was replaced by Paul Howells. With the formation being adjusted at the interval, Dock started to enjoy a bit more possession. Ian Brunt was present on the touchline and he had radio contact with McGraa and Packenham, like Phil Brown had at Hull City, only Brunty is a lot darker than him since he won a year’s subscription to ‘Tantastic ’ for retaining The Mr. Gay U.K. title in Brighton last month.

On 70 mins, a strong run down the left by Charlie McInnes saw him power through a couple of tackles and his low cross shot took a slight deflection to wrong foot the keeper and give the Dock a life- line as it nestled in the back of the net to make it 1-1.

5 minutes later, Charlie was involved in a fracas as he again got stuck in and all of a sudden Heygarth were rattled. It resulted in a harsh yellow card for the boy but the damage was done and you could sense a winner!

With 4 minutes remaining Dock were awarded a free kick on the left hand corner of the Heygarth box. Lee Hammond delivered and Jamie Kenyon glanced a superb header into the net to make it 2.1. Heygarth had a man sent off in the dying moments as they lost their discipline completely and seconds after that the whistle blew and the Dock had three more precious points.

Man of the match: Ian Brunt ( for changing the shape via radio headset ) But a mention must go to Tony Sample who was right in the thick of it when needed.

Report by Mike Stevens
Pictures by Chris Stading

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Dock secured all three points against Brow FC at a wet and cold Levers Sports Ground, somebody said this is summer!!!

Dock opened the scoring after only 17 seconds when club captain Gary Reay latched on to a Lee Hammond ball beating the keeper with his first touch of the game. Jamie Kenyon scored his second in consecutive games with a superb effort from outside the box on 16 minutes.

After missing a number of great chances through bad finishing and good goalkeeping, Dock had their keeper Paul Davies to thank for keeping the score at 2-0 when he made a superb save on the 35th minute mark.

Dock started the second half similar to the first when Iggy McGraa took only three minutes to make it 3-0. Brow did pull a goal back 14 minutes later but another Jamie Kenyon goal and a last minute Lee Hammond penalty ensured all three points went to Dock.

Final score Dock 5-1 Brow FC

No photos sorry, too wet!!

After a pre-season of dominant displays and a glut of goals scored (and conceded) It was on to the ‘real stuff ’ and a tough opener with Rock Ferry at Levers.

Manager McGraa had tough decisions to make as he selected the side for the first game of the season. With players absent or still recovering from injury and new signings still bedding in, this is far from a settled side and players left out of the starting line up should still feel confident of playing their way into the team. With mid-week games and Saturday commitments, McGraa will need everyone at his disposal and then it is up to the individual to stake his claim.

Jamie Kenyon found himself a marked man as his former team mates paid him close attention with a couple of heavy tackles. This was no more than he expected and he gave the perfect reply in opening the scoring with a sweetly controlled strike from the edge of the area (pictured above). It was indeed ‘ Unbelievable Tekkers’ from Kenyon and he showed respect to his former team with his muted celebration or maybe it was because he could do nothing about it because straight away he was mobbed by his delighted team mates!

Javier Head made it 2.0 with close range finish (pictured below) and although taking a two goal lead, Dock never had it all their own way as Rock Ferry went close on a couple of occasions and hit the bar with a shot that rebounded to safety off the Dock Keeper Aaron Kinnear.

Just before the half, Dock conceded from a towering header from ex-player Robbie Stewart and went into the break 2.1 up.

The second half was a scrappy affair and Dock where made to work hard to protect their lead with Rock Ferry again hitting the bar. As the final whistle blew it was three points won without hitting the heights of previous games and these three points could prove vital at the end of the season.

Just a line about the already Gayboy of the year, sorry, ‘player of the year’ Ian Brunt, that turn inside and stroked pass to a team mate in the first half…….pure class mate, pure class !

Man of the match…..Ian Brunt.

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Report by: Mike Stevens
Photos by: Chris Stading