With quite a few availability issues going on this week, coupled with suspensions, the Ruts did well to get all 4 teams out, and to top it all, we managed to secure 3 wins and narrowly lost out on a full clean sweep.
The 1st XI were without both Joint Managers today as Nick Raggett is in Iceland (funny time to go frozen food shopping) and Marc Skinner had to take his Wife to Hospital and we wish her well and hope that she has a speedy recovery. However, Cometh the hour, cometh the man, as the suspended 1st XI veteran Duncan Fraser was hauled off of his comfy settee to take care of proceedings admirably.
So on to the match itself, The 1st XI managed to secure a decent 3 – 0 at Westminster Casuals FC. After the teams drew at Poplar Road last weekend, it was a welcome sight to notice that like us, our hosts also had a few absentees.
Captain Chris Beard notched a quickfire brace after good work from Billy Liffen and Zak Graham respectively. Firstly, he fired home right footed at the 2nd attempt in the 19th minute and then headed home in the 22nd minute, to secure the OR’s with the interval lead.
In the second half Beard then claimed his perfect hatrick following clever footwork and a 20 yard left footed effort to make it 3 – 0.
Whilst the whole team put in a big shift with several massive performances in particular, a big thanks and special mention to Club Captain Kyle Moore for stepping up to the plate from the 2nd XI to put in a decent 90 minutes at right back.
The 2nd XI secured a welcome 2 – 0 win against Oxted & District Res FC, thanks to goals from Luke Bates and Rowan Matthews.
The 3rd XI also gained a credible 3 – 1 win over Old Boys Clapham FC courtesy of a Kevin Foster brace and a strike from Matt Vandepeer.
The 4th XI narrowly lost out 1 – 0 in their League Cup Semi Final match against NPL ‘A’ FC at Poplar Road. Our thanks go to club legend Graham Clayton for taking the teams reins in the absence of regular Manager Boo-Boo.
Best wishes to the Ruts Junior teams tomorrow.
Old Ruts Football Club 