ANKARAGUCU LEAVE IT LATE ….. AND …...

they keep our nerve ends jangling !!!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

ANKARAGUCU 2 Kizilcahammam 0

Team - Gokhan Akkan, Aytac Oden, Serhat Aykuz, Selim Teber, Emre Tasdemir, Serhat Gulpinar, Muhammed Gonulacar, Mehmet Cakir, Volkan Yilmaz, Kaan Kanak, Umut Nayir

Subs - Bayram Olgun, Metin Aydin, Onur Atasayer, Serkan Sirin, Ali Gayla, Harun Aydin, Omer Yalcin

OK, so today is Ladies Day, but for us married guys, this is a normal way of life to have nerve ending jangling …. isn't it ??!!

I was working at school this morning but I managed to 'escape' to make it down to my favourite cafe – Sports Club Cafe for pre-match coffee overlooking the two amateur matches on the Astro Turf pitches outside the Stadium.

I was first into the Stadium and then followed by Dolma Kanka (Murat Kaya), his son, Anil, Ismet Bey and then Battle Damaged Kanka Damon.

Gecikondu was full, as always, Maraton was about half full, and in the away end there was about 50 supporters for the 'local derby' !

It was a pretty tense opening minutes with both teams trying to exert their authority on the match, but then in the 6^th minute …...

Zero Six for Ankara …...... Gecikondu released hundreds of blue and yellow balloons and then burst them together …...... noise …. plus !

It took until the 13^th minute for the game to ignite when a Kizil attacker brought out a good save from Gokhan, who had replaced regular goalkeeper Bayram (probably as a punishment for Bayram's silly mistakes last week in Izmir).

16^th minute and a loud chorus from all the tribunes for Bursaspor (our brother team).

It took until the half hour mark for Ankaragucu to make their first serious attempt at goal when a great cross from the right came in from Mehmet Cakir and all the Ankaragucu forward had to do was tap in, but …......... whoever it was, missed totally and was made to look ….. I don't want to say the word, but I will …...... stupid !!!

Just before the half time whistle and Volkan almost made the breakthrough when his shot found the side netting.

Half time and Ankaragucu went in probably the luckier of the two teams. Not a very professional display ….......... even without the absent Levent !!!

The 2^nd half got underway and Kizil continued to take the game to Ankaragucu as they did throughout the first half. However, gradually Ankaragucu was coming back into the match and showing some attacking flair at last.

13 minutes in and Selim Teber had a great shot which was tipped over by the Kizil goalie. Great shot and great save.

Half an hour gone in the 2^nd half and it has to be said that Emre receives the Man of the Match award for the ….. lost count …........time !!! He has been everywhere, making interceptions and attacking, causing all sorts of problems, but his good work is not producing the vital goal.

Into the half way point of the 2^nd half and a let-off for Kizil when Serhat's goalbound shot was tipped over by the goalkeeper for a corner.

15 minutes to go and the Ankaragucu defence is having to withstand a Kizil surge. It is 'panic stations' but the defence is holding firm …..... just !

Then with 10 minutes left …..... and, with those nerve ends jangling, the breakthrough eventually came. A free kick out on the right which was swung over for Umut to use his height to nod in. The goalkeeper got a hand to it, but the ball squirmed over !!!

Phewwwww …...... sighs of relief all round and then …...... Lie lie lie lie lie lie … Ankaaaaarrrrraaaagoooojoooo !!!!

5 minutes later and it was all over. A great run down the left by Umut …... looks up …... cuts back for Yalcin to slide the ball in with a cheeky (or fortunate ?) back heel !

Up the volume again …..... and ….. nerves back to normal function !

Time for Kaan to almost make it 3 with a great run down the left, supported by Man of the Match (again !!!), Emre, but his shot was well saved by the goalkeeper.

Off to tie-up with Maniac Kanka Harun in the Chopin and celebrate. Damon's assessment of the match (which I agree with) is that ….... Ankaragucu was crap in the 1^st half which Kizil dominated for periods. However, the 2^nd half was a different Ankaragucu team which started well and gradually settled into a more attacking mode.

So, a good 3 points to put pressure on Altinordu and Alanya who will play tomorrow.

Time to celebrate, a win, Ladies Day …........ and Maniac's daughter, Hazal's, 18^th birthday !!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim