The Old Ruts got off to a perfect start in the league with an excellent Victory over Oxted & District Res.

The opening goal didn't come until 20 minutes from time when Billy Finnis gave the 'keeper no chance after being put clean through. It had been an even contest until then, but winger James Bone made it comfortable for the Ruts soon after when he drove home for a well-deserved goal.

And skipper Graham Clayton put the icing on the cake late on when he ghosted onto Finnis' free-kick to head in from six yards. "It was a hardworking performance littered with good football," said a jubilant Clayton after the match.

The Old Ruts had the better of this goal feast to make it two league wins out of two this season, despite going a goal down early on.

Steve Berry chipped in an excellent equaliser soon after and when Worcester retook the lead, Russell Nixon then scored the goal of the match to make it 2-2 at the break, hitting a 30-yard screamer to cap a fine six-man one-touch move.

The Ruts took control in the second half and duly went 5-2 up thanks to strikes from Seb Senior, Graham Winter and Berry again. And with Matt Payne and Pete Pearce excelling at the back the game looked won.

But Worcester brought it back to 5-4 as the Ruts became complacent, and it needed Senior's second goal of the game to finish them off.

A poor start eventually cost the Old Ruts dear as they succumbed to their first defeat of the season.

Colliers Wood dominated the first-half and it was only some fine keeping from Roland Heal that kept the score down to 2-0. But the Ruts rallied after the break and got back into the match when striker Seb Senior scored his sixth in six games.

With Greg Suares and Graham Winter driving the team from midfield the Ruts pressed for the equaliser, but the 75th minute proved the turning point as skipper Graham Clayton missed a good chance to level and Colliers Wood were then immediately gifted a third after a defensive mistake.

The Ruts could not recover from that and the league leaders ran out comfortable 3-1 winners.

The Old Ruts' will reflect on another slow start which cost them their second defeat on the spin.

Despite having some good chances to take the lead, they conceded a crucial early goal. However, the Ruts then came alive and dominated the match, but were unable to pull level.

As the game wore on they pushed increasingly harder for the equaliser but eventually got caught on the break by Oakway for the second goal which killed the game off.

There were some good performances though, notably from Steve Gathercole at centre-back and Graham Winter in midfield.

The Old Ruts slipped to a surprise defeat against a team one division below them in this Junior League Cup second round tie.

Sloppy defending and missed chances was the story of the opening period for the Ruts as Tadworth took a commanding 3-0 half-time lead. The visitors came out after the break pushing for an early goal which would have got them back into it, but despite their pressure they didn't make the breakthrough until the 65th minute when striker Seb Senior notched his seventh of the season.

An excellent free kick from Graham Winter pulled it back to 2-3 with just four minutes left, but it was too little too late. "I thought we were the better team," lamented manager Graham Clayton.

The Old Ruts spurned chance after chance as they somehow lost a match they dominated.

Despite creating the better opportunities the Ruts went in 0-0 at half-time believing the breakthrough was just a matter of time. But it was Fetcham who snatched a surprise lead soon after the restart, although top scorer Seb Senior soon equalised.

The Ruts then had some good chances to go ahead but poor finishing let them down. And they paid the price on 70 minutes when a good strike gave keeper Roland Heal no chance.

Fetcham made it 3-1 late on after an almighty scramble in the Ruts' box, despite a suspicion of handball, and to add insult to injury skipper Graham Clayton had a blatant penalty appeal turned down late on. "I couldn't believe the amount of chances we missed today," said a frustrated Clayton.

The Old Ruts crashed out of a second cup competition in three weeks as they were dumped out of the Surrey Cup in round two.

After an even first 15 minutes Coulsdon opened the scoring with a breakaway goal, and despite having some good chances the Ruts couldn't equalise. They were punished again just before the break when sloppy defending gave the visitors a 2-0 half-time lead, and it could have been worse but for a good save low down to his left by Ruts keeper Roland Heal.

Despite plenty of pressure and numerous opportunities in front of goal the Ruts could not get back into the match due to a mixture of poor finishing and good goalkeeping. And Coulsdon wrapped up the tie in the 75th minute with their third to cap a miserable afternoon for the Ruts.

A good team performance stopped a run of five successive defeats for the Old Ruts as they won comfortably at Rusmill.

A flowing five-man one-touch move resulted in Seb Senior heading home debutante Peter Kamara's cross after just 10 minutes. An unfortunate bounce led to Rusmill equalising soon after, but Kamara made it 2-1 on 25 minutes.

The Ruts were the better team in the second half and Graham Winter scored the goal of the game as his 30 yarder screamed into the top left hand corner. Rusmill threatened a fight-back, but solid defending from Pete Pearce, Matt Payne and Dave Crisp kept them at bay, before the hosts missed a penalty.

They were punished for that by two late goals from Jamie Shawki and Graham Clayton as the Ruts killed off the game.

A controversial refereeing decision soured this open game and left Old Ruts manager Graham Clayton seething as his side lost to a late goal against the division's bottom team.

With the match delicately poised at 1-1 midway through the second-half, Seb Senior's effort was at least a yard over the goal-line before it was cleared, only for the referee to amaze all 22 players by waving play on.

Thornton Heath rubbed salt into the wounds by going on to score an 85th minute winner, but it had all started so well for the Ruts. Simon Minihane's strong running won a free-kick as he was hauled down on the half-hour mark, and man-of-the-match Graham Winter sent over a perfect cross for Russell Nixon to head in.

But the visitor's levelled just before the break to set up an entertaining second-half marred by that dubious incident.

Oakway completed the double over the Old Ruts as they took their chances to edge a well-balanced match.

The hosts were on top in the first half and Simon Minihane was unlucky to see his fifth minute effort tipped round the post. But a good volley put Oakway ahead on 50 minutes, and 15 minutes later it was 2-0 after poor Ruts defending.

Despite an excellent performance from Matt Payne the Ruts couldn't get back into it. Midfielder Nigel Watford had the best chance but his diving header hit the post late on, leaving the Ruts to ponder their seventh loss in eight games.

The problem that has blighted the Old Ruts' season cost them the game once more as they failed to take their chances.

An even first half ended goalless despite sights of goal for Seb Senior, Jamie Shawki and Barry Catling, who were otherwise having good games.

On 70 minutes Shawki had a wonderful opportunity to break the deadlock but shot straight at the 'keeper, and the Ruts were made to pay when the Hersham striker scored a superb volley five minutes from time.

The home side pushed forward for the equaliser, but were caught on the break and conceded the second with the last kick of the game. "It was an even game of football but they scored from their chances," said disappointed skipper Graham Clayton.

A poor performance saw the Old Ruts well beaten and they are now firmly entrenched in a relegation battle at the foot of division three.

By half-time Worcester Park were 4-0 up, but the Ruts gave themselves a slim chance when Seb Senior pulled one back soon after the restart, latching onto a rebound after Barry Catling's shot was saved.

The visitors sealed it with their fifth, though, before Matt Bramley slotted in a consolation penalty after Catling was brought down in the area.

Worcester Park had the last word, making it 6-2 late on and forcing Ruts' manager Graham Clayton to admit: "They totally outplayed us and deserved their win - we were rubbish."

The Old Ruts exited the Ellis Printers Shield in the first round after being outplayed by Sutton High.

The home side were 2-0 up within 20 minutes, although the second goal was freakish as a looping header that was going over was held up by a strong gust of wind and dropped just under the bar. Skipper Graham Clayton refused to use that as an excuse though, conceding that "we lost to a better team."

A much improved second period saw the Ruts come back into it, and Clayton was unlucky with a cheeky effort straight from the kick-off that beat the startled 'keeper but sailed just over.

Despite good performances from Seb Senior and Lee Caffell, the Ruts couldn't score and Sutton wrapped it up on the break five minutes from time.

The Old Ruts ended a dismal run of five straight defeats with a crucial Victory over Division Three's bottom club that lifts them out of the relegation zone.

At half-time it looked as though their miserable run would continue though, as they were deservedly 3-0 down. But in the 65th minute pacy striker Simon Minhane was brought down in the area and Matt Bramley scored from the spot.

Five minutes later, winger Russell Nixon was on the end of a flowing move to tap in for 2-3 and the Ruts sensed they could get something out of the match. Nixon then equalised with a calmly taken goal, and Minihane thought he had made it 4-3 only for the ref to disallow his strike.

But the fourth goal did come for the Ruts on 80 minutes when Minihane sent Seb Senior away, and the Ruts' top scorer made no mistake.

Minihane himself capped a superb second half comeback with the fifth late on to leave his manager Graham Clayton delighted: "We were very good today, Russell Nixon turned the game for us."

The Old Ruts fought out a draw with fellow strugglers Oxted as neither side was able to break free of the Division Three relegation scrap.

With the bottom two sides having games in hand on both these teams, three points would have been a massive boost but the Ruts had to settle for one despite bossing the opening exchanges.

The outstanding Nigel Watford gave the Ruts a deserved half-time lead, and with James Fenton and Simon Minihane playing especially well things were looking good. But although Oxted got into the game after the break and threatened an equaliser, the visitors were aggrieved not to be 2-0 up when Minihane had a goal harshly ruled out for pushing.

Despite Lee Caffell having a good game in defence, the Ruts could not keep a clean sheet and Oxted made it 1-1 when a speculative shot found its way into the top corner.

Skipper Graham Clayton felt a draw was the right result. "It was an enjoyable game to play in and a good performance from the lads," he said.

The Old Ruts failed to capitalise on last week's encouraging performance as they were soundly beaten by Sutton High.

A poor first-half display saw the Ruts 4-1 down at the break, the only highlight being Seb Senior beating two players and rifling home his 12th of the season. He had another chance a few minutes later, but shot wide after going round the 'keeper.

Despite a better showing in the second period the Ruts couldn't find a way back into the game and only had Iain Worley's goal to shout about, the centre-half lashing in a loose ball for his first of the season. "At least we won the second half," said skipper Graham Clayton, determined to look on the bright side.

A poor performance saw the Old Ruts get hammered by a team they had beaten 5-1 in November.

The first-half wasn't too bad as the Ruts were only 1-0 down and well in the match. Good performances from Graham Larcombe and Lee Caffell suggested they had a chance of turning it round, but unfortunately Rusmill ran riot after the break adding another four goals.

The result leaves the Ruts perilously close to the relegation zone and skipper Graham Clayton was not happy. "We got what we deserved today," he fumed.

Steve Gathercole's stunning 25-yard drive that swerved past the 'keeper was all the Old Ruts had to show for their afternoon's efforts as they lost for the third match in a row.

Hersham capitalised on their advantage of kicking with the strong wind in the first half and were soon 4-0 up. Russell Nixon had a shot well saved, but the Ruts generally found it hard to get out of their own half.

After the break the Ruts tried to get back into it, but even with the wind Hersham's lead was too big and only Gathercole managed to breach the home defence with his first of the season.

A freakish goal from Pete Thomas earned the Old Ruts a valuable point in their relegation battle as they ended their three match losing streak.

Thomas' inswinging corner on the stroke of half-time was helped towards the goal by the swirling wind and was deemed over the line via a couple of deflections, much to the annoyance of the Sutton players who claimed it had not crossed.

This cancelled out Sutton's opener on 20 minutes and was richly deserved as the Ruts had the better of the first-half, with Thomas again going close when he struck the bar on the half hour mark.

The second half petered out in the blustery conditions, and although the Ruts wasted a couple of good opportunities, skipper Graham Clayton was happy with the draw. "We played well and deserved our point today," he said.

An excellent battling display saw the Old Ruts give the runaway leaders a real battle for 80 minutes - despite not having played for five weeks - but they eventually succumbed to a couple of late goals.

Although Colliers Wood played the more attractive football, defenders Matt Payne and Lee Caffell in particular stood out in keeping them at bay.

In the first half, Matt Bramley tipped a 25 yarder over the bar to ensure the Ruts kept it level. Some good work in midfield from Nigel Watford and Seb Senior saw the Ruts create a couple of good chances, but the forwards couldn't capitalise.

The second half continued in much the same vein until the 60th minute when Colliers Wood finally managed to convert one of their chances.

To their credit the Ruts didn't drop their heads and five minutes later were rewarded with probably the best goal they scored all season. Senior started the move, squaring it to Graham Clayton, who passed it first time to Russell Nixon down the flank. His first time cross found Colin Morley on the penalty spot, and he unleashed a superb volley into the corner for 1-1.

Buoyed by this, the Ruts had a couple of very good chances to go 2-1 up, but couldn't finish.

With the game drawing to a close, the Ruts lack of match fitness finally showed and Colliers Wood won the match with two late strikes.

This being their last game of the season, the Ruts must now await the outcome of other matches to see if they are relegated. Skipper Graham Clayton said: "If we played as well as we did for 80 minutes throughout the season, we would have been in the top four not the bottom four."