ANKARAGUCU SNATCH A GOAL THEN SHUT UP SHOP !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

The kankas met up at the Sports Cafe on a sunny, but cool, November afternoon – Cider Kanka John, Scouse Kanka Marcus, Apple Kanka Erman, Posh Kanka Ahmet and Battle Damaged Kanka Damon.   Unfortunately, Maniac Kanka Harun was ill and couldn’t join us, but we wish him a speedy recovery.

ANKARAGUCU  1     Bugsas Polatli   0

Another good crowd today with Gecikondu and Maraton full.    I counted 14 lonely souls in the away end !

It was a cat and mouse match for the first 10 minutes, before Bugsas almost opened the scoring.   Their No9 was put through, but his weak shot was easily saved by Emrah.

5 minutes later and in Ankaragucu’s first serious attempt on goal, Ferhat’s shot from just outside the box went narrowly past.

Then in the 16^th minute we had the Bursaspor song which we haven’t heard for a while.   Olay Olay Bursaspor Bursaspor !!!

4 minutes later came the only goal of he match and the architect was Harun.   He surged out of midfield with the ball and passed out to Serkan on the right.   His cross came in and the shot was palmed out by the goalkeeper but only to Muharrem who poked it in.

7 minutes later Emrah was called into action to save a goal bound shot.

Approaching the half time whistle and it was almost 2.   An Ankaragucu break out of defence and the ball played into the feet of Omer, but his shot hit the post and was cleared.

Still time for Bugsas to equalise when their No11 was clear through on goal but his tame shot was saved by Emrah.   Then, just on the half time whistle, Harun almost scored but his shot was  just past the post.

Into the 2^nd half and the pace of the match slowed somewhat.   It was mostly all Bugsas still searching for the equaliser.

15 minutes in and Serkan should have scored when he received a pass from Muhammer, but his shot was weak and easily saved.

7 minutes later and it was almost the equaliser when the dangerous Bugsas No9 was put through, but fortunately Emrah anticipated the move and beat him to the ball to save at his feet.

15 minutes to go and Ankaragucu was living dangerously with Bugsas searching desperately for the equaliser and putting the Ankaragucu defence under pressure.   However, unlike the past 2 weeks, the defence was looking not too bad today and holding firm.

Ankaragucu was relying on breakaways at this time, but Bugsas was still looking the more likely to score.

7 minutes to go and almost the equaliser from a corner when a header was sent in just past the post.

Then in time added on, Bugsas was awarded a dubious free kick just outside the box in a central position.   I was expecting the dead ball specialist No9 to take it, but one of the defenders came up and blasted the ball over the bar much to our relief !

Final whistle, and a chance to relax !    The players were then called to Gecikondu to celebrate, but perhaps they were all as relieved as us kankas ?!

Off to the Sportswriters Club for a few refreshments to calm our shattered nerves !!

It is going to be a long and arduous journey to the end of the season me thinks !!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

PS ......... Apologies for lack of photos !