ANKARAGUCU SEND GOLBASISPOR TO THE 3rd LEAGUE !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

A great ‘away day’ was slightly spoiled somewhat when local team Golbasi were relegated to the 3^rd League on the back of an Ankaragucu victory.   It was unfortunate for Golbasi who had numerous chances to win the match, but their finishing was woeful, and as we all know, it’s all about sticking the round ball in the back of the net !

Golbasispor    2              ANKARAGUCU      3

The kankas met-up at Guven Park and we bussed it out to Golbasi.    Melek Kankie Hazal, Maniac Kanka Harun, Battle Damaged Kanka Damon and I, and late-comer Cider Kanka John who was banished to watch the match from a vantage point outside the stadium when the Police closed the gates shortly before kick-off.

It was pissing down, but we were able to enter the covered ‘home end’ where Maniac Kanka and I wore our Golbasi scarves and tried our best to act like ‘home’ supporters !

It only took 4 minutes for Ankaragucu to take the lead from an own goal which none of us saw because we were trying on and admiring our new sexy sky blue scarves !!

Levent should have made it 2 on the 10^th minute mark, but he shot tamely at the goalkeeper.

5 minutes later a Golbasi attacker sent a screamer of a shot narrowly past the post with Gokhan well beaten.   Then, 2 minutes after that there was the miss of the match when Gokhan parried a goalbound shot.   The re-bound was sent goalwards, but it was cleared off the line by my Man of the Match, Gurkhan, who had an outstanding match marshalling his back line.   He has become the stalward of the defence.

3 minutes later and Ankaragucu punished Golbasi for their profligacy in front of goal.   Teoman did well to win the ball and feed Hasan A on the right who sent in an unstoppable shot to the top left corner with the goalkeeper helpless.

On the half hour mark and Teoman showed us how fast he is by going on a run down the right wing from the half way line leaving defenders in his wake.   The cut-back came in near the goal line but Levent couldn’t make contact.

5 minutes later from an Ankaragucu corner, the unkarked Levent headed weakly past the post.

Golbasi had the last chance before half time but Gokhan saved a goalbound shot.

So, going in at half time 2-0 up was a fair reflection of play – Ankaragucu took their chances !  

However, even though Golbasi had the possession and numerous goal attempts in the 2^nd half, they couln’t find the killer touch.   

That said, they finally found the target shortly after the restart.   A corner was swung into the box and an atacker managed to head-in at the 2^nd attempt.

Golbasi were now seeking the equaliser and they had ample opportunities in the next 20 minutes or so with shots on goal saved by Gokhan, a goal-line clearance by Mehmet, a shot screwed wide and even an ‘offside goal’.

10 minutes from the end Golbasi had a free kick just outside the box which occurred from desperate Ankaragucu defending but it went whizzing past the post.   Then 5 minutes from the end there was yet another chance for Golbasi when a cross came in from the left and the attacker struck air as the ball travelled between his legs and out !

Into the last 2 minutes and the goal of the match came from substitute Emir.   A long clearance into the Golbasi half was picked up by him, but with no support in the vicinity, he bore in on goal, rounded a defender, and from the left, shot into the top right hand corner of the goal with the goalkeeper well beaten.    Btw, I hope Teoman was watching from the dug-out on what strikers are supposed to do !!!

1 minute to go and Golbasi still attacked.   Then a rush of blood to the head from an Ankaragucu defender (we couldn’t see which one !) bringing down an attacker in the box resulted in a penalty which the No19 despatched in the centre with Gokhan diving to his left.

Into injury time, and still time for Emir to hit the bar with another stunning shot.

So, an upbeat way to finish the season for the Ankaragucu players, but sad to see local rivals Golbasi being relegated.     If they can keep this team together and perhaps strengthen here and there, then I’m sure they will be back in the 2^nd League in 2 years time.

Back to The Chopin Bar we went to celebrate and watch the Antep v Genclerbirligi match on TV.    What a laugh we had in the 60^th minute of that match when Gencler scored and the cameraman zoomed in on the ONE Gencler fan in the away end.    We could easily read his lips and he shouted ............ Gencler (clap clap clap) ............ Gencler (clap clap clap) !!!    We saw it again 2 more times as Gencler won 3-0 and the players came over to him at the end and threw a shirt to him !

Let’s see if we have any good news to report here in off field activities during the summer which might allow Ankaragucu to lift their transfer ban.

But for now, all the best from Eski Kanka Jim