Sunday, January 22, 2023

GENCLERBIRLIGI’s ‘NEW TEAM’ HEED WAKE-UP CALL !!

 



 

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

 

It has been a long 5 months since Gencler collected 3 points when they beat Bolu on the 20th of August 2022   !!

 

Does this signal a change in fortunes and a serious attempt to avoid relegation   ?   It is certainly encouraging, but there needs to be a consistent response, because Gencler will not meet many teams who ‘gift’ them 3 goals like Bolu did last night   !!

 

Bolu’s league position in the Play-Offs Zone flattered them, and one could be excused for thinking that they ‘sold’ the match   !!!

 

Anyway, the fact remains that Gencler is still stuck at the bottom of the league and 8 points off the safety net with some tricky matches to negotiate in the coming weeks.

 

GENCLERBIRLIGI           5                   Boluspor               1

 

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

 

Substitutes – Baris, Ozgur, Altiparmak, Ozkan and Hayrullah

 

It was end-to-end for the first 30 minutes with both teams attacking and searching for the opening goal.

 

Bolu had 2 clear chances.   Firstly from a goal bound shot which Nurullah pushed around the post for a corner and then an attacker put through one-on-one with Nurullah but his weak shot was straight at Nurullah.

 

Gabriel’s shot from just outside the box was just past the left post and a Bolu defender almost scored an own-goal when his attempted clearance was deflected off his colleague for a corner.

 

Then on the 30th minute mark came what was probably the goal of the match.    Enes near the half way line opened the defence with a great pass to Mete who took the ball to the goal line on the left and sent a classic cut-back to the centre where there were 2 Gencler attackers free.    Ugur was first to react and sent his header in for a well constructed goal.

 

3 minutes later and some diabolical defending by Bolu gifted the 2nd goal to Gencler.    Mete was allowed to waltz around the penalty box avoiding 4 or 5 attempted tackles and a deflection from one of the tackles fell kindly for Gabriel who’s shot squirmed under the goalkeeper, who I may add was too far off his line.

 

Approaching half time and another calamity in the Bolu defence.     A defender not under any pressure around the half way line gave the ball away straight to Mete.    He probably couldn’t believe his luck and surged forward into the box.    The goalkeeper and a defender rushed forward to tackle Mete together but got themselves in a tangle which allowed Mete to continue his run forward and stroke the ball into an empty net.    

 

Into the 2nd half and Bolu looked shell-shocked after falling behind 3-0, and things didn’t improve for them.

 

15 minutes in and it was almost 4 but a goal bound shot was saved at the 2nd attempt and then 5 minutes later a Gencler free kick just outside the box was saved.

 

At the other end Nurullah saved a goal bound shot heading inside the left post.

 

5 minutes later and yet another defensive blunder by Bolu.     A defender was caught dithering and was forced into a slack back-pass which was nicked by Enes who surged forward and crossed into the box for Altiparmak to shoot in with the goalkeeper helpless.

 

10 minutes later it was almost 5 when Enes dispossessed a Bolu player so easily and drove into the box but his shot was just past the post.

 

Then against the run of play with 5 minutes to go, Bolu scored a consolation goal when Safa was put through from the half way line and he outpaced the defence to shoot inside the right post.

 

Straight from the kick off Gencler restored their 4 goal advantage when there was a fast break on the left and the ball played inside to Baris who shot inside the left post.

 

So, yes, it was a comprehensive win for Gencler who will no doubt savour a rare victory, but they will never encounter another team who’s defence was in such a generous frame of mind.     The Bolu Coach will have a mega job on his hands this week to lift morale in his team.

 

Gencler will be in action again next Saturday 28th January when they visit 4th top of the league Pendik in yet another of those ‘difficult’ matches.     Their small compact stadium will surely focus Gencler minds   !!

 

As always, watch this space for the outcome.

 

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

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