Merton Rovers ended a two game losing streak with a superb 2 nil victory over Old Rutlishians in the Surrey Cup 2nd Round at Wimbledon Common Extensions. The two teams are actually separated by 3 divisions and 31 places in the Kingston & District League with Old Rutlishians in the 2nd division and Merton Rovers in the 5th.

This game was actually planned to be played the week previously, but due to bad weather was called off at the last minute. This left the Rovers players frustrated as the previous two weeks had seen successive defeats in two different cup competitions and they were desperate to give Danny Revell his first win as player-manager.

Both sides started brightly with Old Rut's slightly edging the possession, but Rovers gradually started to get the ball down and play through their midfield pairing of industrious Warren Curl and flamboyant playmaker forward Mark Ford.

Danny Revell chose an attacking formation for this game and it was the full backs and wide midfielders that made the difference allowing Rovers to get around their opponents defence almost at will.

Tienne Marola on the left and Ben Smart on the right were instrumental in getting wide and ensuring full backs Ed Buckley and Jaime Robins were able to feed strike duo Paul Tuckey and the flying squirrel' Bobby Smith.

The first half finished with Rovers on top, Tuckey had an excellent free kick that the Rut's keeper only just tipped wide and he was lucky again later on when Mark Ford narrowly fired over from distance.

The game really got going early in the second half with the Rovers midfield four and the two full backs impressing. Tuckey and Bobby Smith gave everything they had and were full of non-stop running to provide space for the midfield to move into.

After another superb Rovers move the ball ended up at the feet of one of the Old Rut's centre halves. His poor touch allowed industrious midfielder Warren Curl to deliver a crunching tackle and with Bobby Smith surging towards the far post Curl sent a delicious cross for the Samoan Bulldozer to launch himself full length at the ball and his diving header found the bottom left corner.

This goal inspired Rovers and their fluid football tore through the Old Ruts rearguard on many occasions, but unfortunately couldn't find the killer blow. Then with only 10 minutes to go a fantastic through ball from livewire Paul Tuckey found his strike partner Bobby Smith.

Smudger then found himself in the clear and bearing down at goal with only the keeper to beat. Unselfishly, within yards of the onrushing keeper he squared it for Ali Al-Majali, on as a substitute and only just back from a long term injury.

Ali made no mistake and coolly side footed Smith's pass into the unguarded Old Ruts net and gave Rovers the result they all craved.

Man of the Match - Bobby Smith (9/10). Overall it was a great performance from the Jamaican frontman full of pace, power and movement. His unselfish play gave his team mates an outlet and his game was awarded with another superb goal.