By Richard Beale……
Result : ESENTEPE KKSK 1 BOSTANCI BAĞCIL SK 1
Wednesday January 25th 2017 : K-Pet League 1 White Group : Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.
Esentepe KKSK -v- Bostancı Bağcıl SK
Esentepe dropped 2 vital promotion points against relegation Bağcıl, but with leaders Ozanköy and 3rd place Lapta drawing themselves, luckily Esentepe remain in second spot. You would never have thought there are 8 places between the two teams, as Bağcıl were unlucky not to have snatched all 3 points as Esentepe turned in a disappointing performance.
With the match being played on a Wednesday and hunting still around, the crowd was surprisingly on the large size. Esentepe made one change to their line up with Burak, who impressed when coming on last week was preferred to “Captain” Başak. Nersin took on the role of Captain.
Bostancı Bağcıl, had their new Coach Orçun Volkan in charge for the first time, and they also made 6 new signings before the transfer deadline ended on Tuesday, 4 of those players were in the visitors’ starting line up.
One of those new signings goalkeeper Gültekin Bilin presented Esentepe with a late Christmas present as the home side took the lead in the 7th minute. Esentepe were awarded a freekick on the right, taken by UMUR who put in a long deep kick too near the keeper, however Gultekin unchallenged fumbled the ball into his own net, not a great start for your new Club. 1-0.
Esentepe boosted by this gift kept up a good tempo to their game and were pressing forward as Bagcil took time to settle. Bağcıl eventually did and Cenker who had come close with an earlier effort, sent in a powerful header over the Esentepe crossbar from an Ersen cross.
Esentepe should have increased their lead in the 34th minute following an Umar corner, which was met at the far post by Eser, who should have done better, but screwed his shot across goal, where Burak sliding in at the near post, prodded the ball forward only to see it scrambled off the line.
Following a good move İlyas swept the ball out to Eser on the left, where he tried his luck just outside the box with a shot that Gültekin managed with some difficulty to push round the post.
It was a scrappy first half with numerous fouls and both teams were unable to retain possession for any length of time. HALF TIME : 1-0.
During the break the breeze had picked up considerably and favoured Bağcıl who kicked off with it behind them.
Again in the 47th minute Esentepe should had made the game safe when Emre and Umar combined well down the right before the latter sent over a cross where Tacettin unmarked headed wide, he should have at least brought the keeper into action.
Esentepe would rue those missed chances as out of the blue in the 53rd minute Bağcıl equalised. There seemed no danger when Cenker, standing just outside the area tried his luck with a fierce shot that sailed past Ali’s left hand side and into the net, a fine goal. 1-1.
Immediately Esentepe substituted Burak with midfielder Hüseyin. Bacğcıl now started dictating the match with the tall Kaan and Bahrı pulling the strings in midfield, following a lightning break down the left Cenker in a race to the ball with Emre managed to get in a shot first, which goalkeeper Ali just managed to push round for a corner. From that corner Kaan got in a header that again Ali managed to get a hand to it. Bağcıl were enjoying a fine spell and Esentepe Coach Davut Kansu introduced Başak in the 65th minute in place of Umar, who had had a good match.
Eser sent in a low hard cross that nobody could get a final touch to in an isolated Esentepe move as Bağcıl continued to impress moving players forward as they sensed a winner. Bağcıl replaced their keeper Gültekin, who had made a nervous debut with the more expedience Halıl in the 75th minute.
Esentepe attacks were becoming predictable with Tacettin getting little joy out of defenders Issac and Ahmet, when competing with the long ball. Esentepe’s tall defender Firat up with the attack swivelled and sent a fierce shot that brought Halıl to his knees. He was involved with Esentepe’s last chance of the match in the 86th minute, from his cross from the left, Tacettin managed to get in a shot at the near post which rebounded off Halıl onto the post, then in an almighty scramble in the area Emre’s fierce shot, was deflected over the bar by Issac who bravely flung his body at the ball. FULL TIME : 1-1.
SUMMING UP : It was not to be Esentepe’s day, they were not at their best and maybe a draw was a fair result in the end. They need to be more clinical with their finishing. Bostanci Bağcıl Coach will be heartened by their display, their new signings gave the team a lift, and they showed plenty of spirit and fight which they will need if they want to avoid relegation. Esentepe themselves showed spirit and effort, but they were lacking something today. Umar on the right had the beating of his marker and had a good match, as did Mahmut in midfield. FIRAT at the back had another fine match and was Esentepe’s best player. Esentepe who face League leaders on Sunday, may be without Hüseyin who picked up his 4th booking of the season and Uğurcan who went off with a hamstring injury.
ESENTEPE TEAM (4-4-2, replacement in brackets, marks out of 10 )
Ali (gk) 6 : Emre 6, Nersin 7, FIRAT 7.5, Uğurcan 6 (Muhammed 80 ): Umar 7(Başak 65), İlyas 5, Mahmut 7, Burak 5 (Hüseyin 58): Tacettin 5, Eser 5 :
Replacements not used : Tuğrul (gk), Mustafa, Şahin, Hürkan .
ESENTEPE NEXT MATCHES :
Sunday 29 January : Away v Ozanköy SK. Kick off 2-30pm : Ozanköy Mustafa Özkayim Stadi……….Match Of The Day as Esentepe face the League Leaders.
Thursday 2 February : Away v GAÜ Çetinkaya kick off 2-00pm : Atatürk Stadium, Lefkoşa………The Koopbank Kibris Kupasi Round 1 and Esentepe have a tough one drawn away to a Supa League side.
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