Honours Even

The Boroughs oldest local derby provided an entertaining afternoon in the sunshine at Parkside in the annual Stan Veness Trophy. Ex Blue Brian"Ladders" Moses struck in the second half for the Dockers with Blues talisman striker Tony Stokes levelling shortly after. Competitive at times the game ebbed and flowed and although both keepers were rarely called into action there were moments of excitement throughout. Blues injury hit squad with Mitch Hahn, Nathan Fox , Luke Hirst all out and Darrelle Russell carrying a knock restricting his movement, nevertheless were competitive throughout. New Signing Joe Paxton has added energy and drive to the midfield and Pat Ahern and Lewis Clark are beginning to form a good understanding at the back

Blues made the brighter start taking the game to their visitors forcing a corner early on, but it was the tall laconic Moses who engineered the first chance turning well, but his effort lacked power and accuracy drifting harmlessly wide of the upright.

The Dockers came more into the game making it an even contest, but neither side could make the decisive breakthrough as the game became bogged down in midfield.

Although billed as a friendly (could there ever be between these two protagonists?), there was no quarter given with the Dockers guilty of some questionable challenges affecting the flow of the game.

The bustling Paxman was instrumental in a fluent passage of play finding Stokes who released Joao Carlos whipping in a driven cross just eluding Russell

For the DockersDavid Knight looked a threat at times, but it was Moses once again who came close flashing an effort just wide.

Lee Burns received a yellow card for a cynical challenge on Carlos which had the game not been a friendly would surely have resulted in a different colour.

HT 0-0

Stokes was in action after the break when he just failed to make contact after good work down the flank by Russell.

The Dockers looked sharper in the second period and were rewarded in the 52nd minute when Ola Ogunwinde embarked on a mazy run cutting inside and releasing Moses who slid the ball past the advancing Danny Sambridge.

With their tails up the visitors must have fancied their chances, but Blues look a more resolute outfit this term and eight minutes later were back level. Lewis Dark who had performed well, crossed deep into the Dockers box, Stokes finding space at the far post picked the ball up and placed a slide rule shot through a crowded area past the diving Harry Girling.

The match was now finely balanced with the next goal probably deciding the outcome, but strangely there was a lull only punctuated with a scare for Blues when a cross appeared to run across the line bound for the net, but Ryan Sammons came to the rescue hacking the ball to safety. Stokes came close minutes later with an instinctive hook shot that flew over.

It was left to that man Moses to have the last opportunity to win the game for Dockers rising highest but planting his over.

A draw then was a fair reflection of the encounter leaving skippers Burns and Dark to receive the Trophy from Alison Popham

Sambridge, Sammons, Joynes ( Baker 86), Lewis Dark, Pat Ahern, Lewis Clark, Darrelle Russell ( Girling 68),Moroyin Omolabi ( Agunbade 70),Stokes, Paxman, Carlos