ANKARAGUCU WEATHER THE STORM

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Last night Ankaragucu dealt with the snow storm better than Fener and also the Ankaragucu defence weathered a deluge from Fener in the first half. As Nadeem said, what the hell did Umit Bey say to them at half time ?!

ANKARAGUCU 2 Fenerbahce 1

How many times have I used the expression ..... 'if only' ........ this season ? Well, here it comes again ........ if only Ankaragucu could play every match for 90 plus minutes like they played in the 2nd half last night then they would be up there with Trabzon !!

Only Battle Damaged Kanka Damon and I braved the elements last night, but it was not too hard to bear in view of our 'mini protest' and the fact that the heating was on in the Beer Bus Bar !

From what we saw from the TV cameras, the only tribune which was there in any numbers was Anti-X. Free tickets no doubt ??!! I don't know how long Gecikondu will be willing to maintain their protest, but ultimately the decision will be whether the Gokceks can stop their childish behaviour and issue match tickets at a reasonable and fair price !

Team -

Senecky
Ugur, Zewlakov, Rajnoch, Klukowski
Adem, Guven, Kaan, Gabric, Dogan
Sestak

2nd half subs - Weeks, Mehmet and Metin

Fener made it quite clear from the kick off that they were here to attack and they almost opened the scoring in the 1st minute when the ball was crossed into the danger area. There were no takers and the ball went out of play. Alarm bells were ringing in the defence !

5 minutes in and a great save from Senecky from a long shot.

12 minutes in and Fener should have taken the lead. A shot from Dia (I think) which was a goal all the way with Senecky beaten, but ........ it hit the crossbar and was cleared to safety. What a let off !

18 minutes in and Rajnoch makes a great tackle to avoid another dangerous move. 7 minutes later he clears up in a goalmouth melee. He's having a great match along with the others in defence.

• 31 minutes in and Kaan made a timely interception to burst into the Fener area, but there was no support and the danger was cleared.

36 minutes in and Senecky again saves the day by rushing out to smother the ball at the feet of a Fener attacker.

Dia and Niang are creating chances with their running but the Ankaragucu defence is holding firm and dealing with their cross balls into the area.

Approaching half time and Guven had a shot on goal which was easily saved.

Almost half time and Senecky again does the biz saving at the feet of Alex as he was about to shoot.

Half time whistle and my comment was ....... thank fuck for that !!

The 2nd half started the way the 1st half ended. Fener on the attack with Senecky dealing with everything coming his way. Rajnoch is still a stalward in defence and having a cracking match.

A quote from Damon at this stage of the match ......... 'they are so much faster than us' ! True enough, but the Ankaragucu defence and midfield are playing above themselves and holding firm.

53 minutes in and Ankaragucu scores a great 'offside' goal. No doubt about it - the linesman was spot on.

55 minutes in and Ankaragucu is beginning to spread the ball around like we know they can. Gabic is looking dangerous and beginning to make his presence felt. No sooner had I said that than he was off and replaced by Weeks !

60 minutes in and although Ankaragucu is playing better, Fener still have control of the match and looking the likelier team to score.

Then the match was turned upside down. A great cross in from the left (was it Guven ?) and there was Sestak running in to meet it and side foot it in for a goal. Cue .... up on our feet and hi-fives with some of our neighbours on the next table.

70 minutes in and it is Ankaragucu who is looking the more dangerous now, however, Fener is still attacking and Senecky and Rajnoch again combine to clear a Fener attack.

4 minutes later and it's that man Sestak again. He picked the ball up near the centre circle and made for goal beating FOUR Fener defender on his way. Looks up, picks his spot and fires in a fantastic goal with Volkan having no chance. Candidate for Goal of the Season ?? More hi-fives and just look at the smiles on our faces !!!

3 minutes later and it was almost a 3rd goal. An inch perfect cross from Mehmet and Guven dives in with a bullet of a header. Up we jump, but .......... the ball rebounds off the post and is cleared.

Fener is still attacking but Rajnoch is tidying up and great to see Ankaragucu playing the ball out of defence instead of hoofing it up and anywhere.

Into time added on and with the last attack of the match Niang fires in a shot from the left which rebounds off Senecky's body. The rebound was slotted in for a fluke goal and then ...... final whistle !

A great result and a great team display. Senecky receives my Man of the Match vote but only by a whisker from Rajnoch, Sestak and Guven !

It's a mouth-watering prospect to see what Vittek can add to Sestak's play in the 2nd half of the season. Those two have the potential to shoot Ankaragucu up the table, as long as the defence can put in performances like last night.

Next Saturday Ankaragucu will be away in Antalya for the last match before the mid-season break. KO time to be announced later.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim