Time for Gencler to start finding the back of the net

With the introduction of the fast train between Ankara and Eskisehir (just 20 lira - 9.70 euros - for a return ticket) and the fact that we now play at The Stadium From Hell means that it is now easier to get to an away match in a city 233 kilometres away than it is to go to one of our own home games.

Spine and I made the journey and the first mistake I made was to be wearing my colours when we got off the train. Since the nasty incidents at the Eskisehir - Ankaragucu match the police now meet away fans at the train and bus them into the stadium. Luckily EsEs Kanka Onur met us at the train and managed to get us silly yabancilar out of the station and off to the pub.

A couple of 3.75 lira bottle beers later and Spine and I made the short walk to the stadium.

Spine and Oz Kanka feeling confident.

Eskisehirspor 0 - 0 Genclerbirligi

I can't really say a lot about the match thanks to the crap position they put us Gencler fans and the fact it was very very dark. Why they didn't put the lights on I have no idea. Whilst 0 - 0 may seem boring it was actually quite a decent match. Perhaps the best chance fell to Kahe who managed to hit the post in the first half.

Once again Hurşut wasn't brought on until some stage in the second half. Although he didn't do that much he certainly added a spark to our attacks. He made one big mistake though when he had a tight shot on goal when both Mustafa and another player were in excellent positions.

Oh well, 0-0 away isn't a bad result and the local papers in Eskisehir were pretty annoyed that their team had failed to get the full three points.



The Eskisehir fans know how to have fun.

Post match and we joined the small band of Gencler fans (of whom about 30 percent were women) at a cheap bar where we drank away until a tired and emotional Spine pleaded to go back to where we were staying.

Breakfast on the Pursak River, a stroll around the city and then back onto the train for the comfortable ride home.

So that's my third match I've watched in Eskisehir and I've yet to see a goal scored.

EDIT: Ooops, thanks to Ziggy the King, an Eskisehirspor supporter, for pointing out that the river is actually the Porsuk River, not the Pursak River as I stupidly called it.