I don't believe in Father Christmas!

By Richard Beale ….

I am beginning to sound like an old gramophone record with its needle stuck, another good hardworking team performance again dominating most of the match, but with a missed penalty, a goal not given and chances not taken, there is once again nil points for Esentepe.

Result : TÜRK OCAK 1 ESENTEPE KKSK 0

Monday December 10, 2018. K-Pet Super League : Girne 20 Temmuz Mete Adanır Stadı

For once I am lost for words, I really don’t know what more Esentepe can do, Lady luck or the rub of the green has deserted them all season. Unfortunately the record books will show a 1-0 defeat.

Esentepe created more chances in this match than they have for the entire season, but their Achilles Heel is they do not have a proven and clinical goalscorer. I love Henry Odi, he works his socks off for the team, but a finisher he ain’t and he had five chances to score in this match.

When a big money spending Club like Türk Ocak, take off their leading goalscorer and replace him with a central defender, and when they won a corner they had only two players in the box, this shows how rattled they were by the Esentepe performance. Türk Ocak best player was their goalkeeper, who had much more to do than his opposite number.

Esentepe deserved all 3 points and were robbed when they had a “goal” not allowed in the 71^stminute.

Sane who had earlier missed a penalty for Esentepe, tried to make amends by sending in a powerful shot just outside the box, which the Turk Ocak goalkeeper Irfan Özbay only succeeded in pushing the shot towards his own goal, he flapped at the ball again and seemed to palm the ball over the line, before catching it. There was no reaction from referee Utku Hamamcıoğlu or his linesman Ahmet Özkurtuluş and play continued. Everyone of around 350 Esentepe supporters, who had a better view than me were on their feet protesting, and some of them I am ashamed to say leapt over the barriers to confront the linesman.

Esentepe players protested as well, but the referee refused to consult his linesman.

Supporters told me later the ball was at least 20cms over the line, but with no goal line technically to refer to, how ever hard it is to take, we must accept it.

The surface of the Mete Adanır Stadium, was greasy and players from both teams found it difficult to keep their footing. This match played under floodlights, together with a large crowd made the atmosphere electric..

Action from the match Esentepe in red

HIGHLIGHTS :

8 mins : A corner from the left by Ali Özbahar was headed onto the top of the Esentepe crossbar by the powerfully built Yusuf.

9 mins : Esentepe replied immediately when a Kaan pass found Ahmet in space, but the winger shot wide.

19 mins : A great cross from Sane, found Ahmet bearing down on goal again, but his shot from a few yards out was clawed away by Irfan for a corner.

45 mins : Right on the stroke of half time Esentepe at last this season were awarded a penalty, when following a Kaan cross, Odi had a shot charged down by a defender which clearly was with the hand. Up stepped Sane, but his penalty shot was brilliantly saved one handedly by the diving Irfan.

45 mins + 1: Esentepe would pay dearly for the miss as Türk Ocak broke quickly with Ali and Tonbara combining before setting up REMZI BETMEZOĞLU to flick the ball past Ali at the near post. 1-0.

A dejected Esentepe were given a rousing support as they trooped off to the dressing rooms. HALF TIME SCORE : 1-0.

68 mins : Sane cross was met by Odi, who sent in a powerful shot from outside the box wide.

71 mins ; Goal not given.

82 mins : Another Sane cross from the left found Odi, by the penalty spot but he headed over from a great position.

90 mins : From a corner on the right taken by Burak, Hürkan despite the box being congested, managed to get in a shot that saw the leaping Irfan push the effort over for a corner.

90+3 mins : Still Esentepe pressed another great ball from the left by Sane, found Odi just ahead of his markers but the Nigerian shot wide from a few yards out as Irfan came out to challenge.

Once again at the end the Esentepe supporters applauded warmly their appreciation for the team’s efforts.