By Richard Beale……………
Lapta and Esentepe had to be content with a share of the spoils in a very disappointing match last Saturday afternoon in Lapta. There was no lack of effort and commitment from the players but flair and skill were at a premium.
Result : LAPTA TBSK 1 ESENTEPE KKSK 1
Saturday February 10 2018 : K- Pet League 1 : Lapta Şht Şevket Kadir Stadi.
On a cloudy, mild, dull afternoon the weather mirrored the match, dull and will be quickly forgotten in one’s mind. On reflection both teams will be happy with a point, Lapta shaded the opening half and Esentepe did the same in the second period. Esentepe are now 12 games undefeated and Lapta are on their best run of games of the season drawing 2 and winning 1 of their last 3 matches,
Both teams seemed to struggle with the playing surface which had a very uneven bounce also both teams made numerous mistakes and quality football was at a premium.
In a dire first half Lapta had the better of the chances in the 12th minute a Göksel cross from the right, found Ismail Demir the striker headed onto the Esentepe right hand post, the rebound was scrawled clear. Lapta’s other chance came in the 37 minute when a low cross from Mustafa found Abdullah in an excellent position, but the player skied his shot high over the bar.
Esentepe had 2 half chances, earlier on in the 9th minute Eser did well to elude his marker and sent over a cross that Ahmet got his head to the ball, only to find the safe arms of goalkeeper Emre. Esentepe other chance came in the 22nd minute with Yakup did well to find Ahmet on the right, the winger sent over a low cross finding the unmarked Eser, but the striker seemed to take an age to turn and his shot was pushed away by Emre. HALF TIME SCORE : 0-0
Lapta took the lead in the 49th minute when a cross from Mustafa, was chested down by Ertug to İSMAİL DEMİR to shoot home. 1-0.
Esentepe didn’t have to wait long for their equaliser which came in the 56th minute. Midfielder Ismail Aslan signed from Turkey and making his first full League appearance put over a tantalising cross from the left, finding striker ESER KAN who jumped well to send a glancing header into the net. 1-1,
Both sides had what you would call half chances Süleyman had a shot from just outside the area pushed away by the diving Esentepe keeper Kemal.
Esentepe substitute Iltay headed onto Ahmet the winger returned the ball to Iltay but he could not get any power into his shot which was saved by keeper Emre.
Esentepe had a golden opportunity to snatched the match in injury time when Ahmet streaking into the Lapta box anticipating a Mahmut cross sent his header agonizingly wide of the post, a great chance missed .FULL TIME : 1-1..
SUMMING UP : They say promotion form is to win your home matches and take a point on your away matches. Well Esentepe did that and I suppose we shall be grateful and happy with that point. The teams were not at their best, Lapta were as expected awkward opponents and in the end a draw was a fair result.
Two strong defences limited the chances and the midfield was congested with very few moments of real skill.
Lapta defender Ali was sound at the back, but their best player was midfielder SÜLEYMAN BATUK who was everywhere on the pitch.
For Esentepe Kemal had another sound game, Şahin was solid in defence. Ismail Uçar, switched to midfield in the second half was very competitive. New signing fellow namesake Ismail Aslan also showed some fine touches. My “Man of the Match” for Esentepe was NERSIN OSMAN who as ever was reliable and marshalled his defence well.
Next Esentepe match:
Saturday February 17TH. KO 3-OOPM
Home match at Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.
Esentepe v Çanakkale.
Video highlights of the Lapta v Esentepe match by Graham Procter-Brown
