GENCLERBIRLIGI – ‘NEW TEAM’ RISING TO THE CHALLENGE !!

 

 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

Gencler is beginning to prove that their recent resurgence isn’t a fluke.

 

True enough, during the past 2 weeks highflying Bolu and Pendik have flattered to deceive against Gencler, but all credit to the ‘new’ Gencler for taking advantage and starting their serious efforts to avoid relegation.

 

Of course, there is still a long way to go until the season reaches its conclusion, but this recent improvement in form by Gencler is encouraging.

 

Last night in the tight and small Pendik Stadium Gencler nicked the all important goal and dealt professionally with Pendik’s efforts to find the equaliser.    The defence was up for it, and Nurullah was definitely my Man of the Match.

 

It speaks volumes that Pendik had 74% possession and 20 shots on goal without finding that equaliser  !

 

Pendikspor          0                   GENCLERBIRLIGI         1

 

Team – Nurullah, Erkan, Thomas, Alperen, Ugur, Tiago, Khadfi, Mete, Abdullah, Gabriel and Jaime

 

Substitutes – Baris, Altiparmak, Enes, Ozgur and Doukara

 

It was pretty much end to end and then the match exploded into life in the 13^th minute when Jaime was brought down in the box.    He had avoided 2 tackles, but after avoiding the 2^nd tackle and about to shoot, Ankaragucu old boy, Erdem, left his leg trailing for Jaime to fall over it.     The referee quite rightly pointed immediately to the spot.

 

Jaime dusted himself down and sent his shot to the centre with the goalkeeper diving to his left.

 

It was still end to end, but Pendik came close to finding the equaliser near the half time whistle when a cross came in from the right to the far post, but the attempted header went narrowly past the left post.

 

Into the 2^nd half and after 20 minutes Pendik almost found the equaliser.    A great run down the right and a surge into the box by Kappel who’s goal bound looped shot was well saved by Nurullah.

 

Heading towards the final whistle and Penik missed another chance when a close range header was sent just past the post.

 

Pendik laid siege to the Gencler goal in the last 5 minutes and almost found the equaliser in time added on when an attacker was through one on one with Nurullah.    However, Nurullah was a split second quicker to the ball, but his clearance cannoned off the attacker and Nurullah was relieved when the ball went just past the post and out.

 

Gencler will have another opportunity of climbing further out of the danger area next Sunday at home against mid-table Goztepe.     Gencler is currently 5 points behind the safety net but a win next week would be a great boost for the Club and their long suffering fans.

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim