GENCLERBIRLIGI ......... AND IT’S .......AS YOU WERE !!!

 

 

Greeting Kankas and Kankies.

 

Just a few names missing from last season’s team and it seems as though Gencler has been stuck in a time-warp   !!

 

Lots of rumours about financial problems which may account for no new faces, but the one bright spot is that they managed to hold onto key player, Baris.

 

GENCLERBIRLIGI        3                 Altinordu           3

 

Team – Adiyaman, Muhammed, Gokhan, Metehan, Musa, Serdarcan, Hrechyshkin, Baris, Akel, Ahmet and Ilker

 

Substitutes – Altiparmak and Mert

 

It was an amazing first match of the season last night with a classic match of 2 halves.     The 1^st half was a roller coaster of action end to end.

 

It exploded into life in the 6^th minute when Gokhan accidentally had a handball decision against him when the ball struck his upper arm when he had his back to play.    There were loud protests from the Altinordu players and the referee consulted VAR.    The law is quite clear on this and so a penalty was awarded.    Altinordu Captain, Ahmet, stepped up and sent in a fierce shot to the upper right to open the scoring.

 

5 minutes later Gencler equalised when a fast break started on the right.    The ball was sent forward to Baris who carried it into the box and sent his angled shot across the goalkeeper and inside the left post.     

 

5 minutes later and Altinordu was back in front after an exquisite piece of skill from Ahmet.  He was put through, noticed Adiyaman off his line and sent an accurate lob over him for a classic striker’s goal.

 

12 minutes later and the 2^nd equaliser arrived and it was Baris who was the architect.    In a similar position to his 1^st goal, he sent in a fierce shot which the goalkeeper could only parry and there was Ilker lurking to pick up the scraps and head in unchallenged.

 

10 minutes later and a little piece of comedy which you don’t often see in a footie match.    Just outside the Altinordu penalty box two players challenged for the ball and appeared to have a head collision.     The ball had been deflected into the box where an Altinordu defender plucked the ball out of the air and into his hands, obviously anticipating that the referee would stop play.     However, the referee hadn’t blown his whistle and he pointed to the spot for a penalty   !!!       Gokhan stepped up to take the penalty and sent it straight at the goalkeeper who had not problem gathering.      Justice was seen to be done   !!!

 

3 minutes to the half time whistle and what I think was a speculative cross from the left touchline by Aksel went soaring over the goalkeeper and into the top right corner of the goal to put Gencler ahead.     Of course, Aksel may claim to have meant to put it there, but ....... I have my doubts   !!!

 

2 minutes later came the Altinordu equaliser when Safa went on a mazy run and from just outside the box on the right sent a curved shot with the outside of his boot inside the left post for goal of the match.     Amazing skill   !!

 

Time for the players (and me) to catch their breath after a fast and furious 1^st half.      Was there more to come   ?        Errrrrrrmmmm ......... No   !!!

 

Understandably the pace of the 2^nd half was much slower and in all honesty, even though the players sought the winner, it was a ‘damp squib’ after the excitement of the 1^st half.

 

So, as we know, the season in The Championship is a long haul and Gencler will have more severe tests in the months ahead.

 

Next up is a visit to Bolu on Friday night.     Bolu had an impressive 1-0 win away in Manisa at the weekend, so this will be another test for Gencler, especially their fragile defence.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim