By Richard Beale ……
İncirli wanting just two points to clinch top spot in their group and also a place in the Play-Off Finals day – yes local football is still being played coming up to the end of June!
Result: İNCİRLİ SK 6 GÜVERCİNLİK İYSK 0
Thursday June 20: BTM League 2, Group 1: Türkmenköy Mehmet Ali Toker Stadium.
When you’re an addict and desperately looking for a fix, no not that kind of addiction, it’s local football for me. This fixture caught my eye and with a 5-30pm kick off it still left time to enjoy a beer afterwards.
Your may ask where the hell is İncirli? where is Güvercinlik? and also Türkmenköy where the match was being played. Let the geography lesson, begin I also had to look the places up on the map! İncirli is a small village bordering the Dhekelia British Sovereign base, Güvercinlik also borders the base but is nearer Famagusta. Turkmenkoy where I have been a number of times is between Dörtyol and Beyarmudu/Pyla, turn right at the small roundabout and it’s the next village along.
Lesson over back to the football, the İncirli supporters commandeered the Stadium, decking it out with flags, banners, also drums and loudhailers making it a party atmosphere, they were ready to celebrate. Their Football President was giving out replica shirts to all fans as they entered the ground, not to me though, no XXXL size available!
Türkmenköy must have had some rain earlier as the car park had free standing puddles. The downpour would have done wonders to the playing surface which normally is bone hard and uneven.
İncirli forwards (red/blue strip) piling on the pressure
The İncirli supporters were up dancing after only 2 minutes when their side took the lead. A free kick from the right saw their burly centre back SÜLEYMAN TÜRKER steal round the back unchallenged to head past goalkeeper Mehmet Dağal. 1-0
The visitors settled down and for most of the first half it was an even contest, though Güvercinlik failed to trouble the İncirli defence that has only conceded 3 goals in 11 matches.
Just before the break İncirli increased their lead following a break down the left by Bekir he was cynically taken out by the Güvercinlik captain Salıh, “taking one for the team” and also taking a yellow card, From the free kick defender Ergün headed his clearance straight to BEKER BİLGİ who smashed the ball in, justice was done. HALF TIME SCORE ; 2-0.
It was all İncirli in the second half as the visitors were pinned deep inside their own half . Their defence were making some hasty and desperate clearances. Goalkeeper Mehmet also rescued them on numerous occasions making some fine saves, but it was only a matter of time before the floodgates would open.
Güvercinlik Goalkeeper Mehmet Dağal, who made a string of fine saves in action.
50 mins : A long goal kick from the İncirli keeper was not dealt with effectively, the ball went to HALIL DENİZ who beat goalkeeper Mehmet with a shot from outside the box. 3-0.
66 mins : Following a cross from the left Ibrahim Çelik got in a shot that was brilliantly palmed away by Mehmet only for the ball to fall to HALIL DENİZ following up to score his second goal of the match. 4-0
The visitors were looking a well beaten side with only goalkeeper Mehmet and Captain Salıh standing in their way, plus some wasteful finishing, the score could well have gone into double figures.
79 mins : A right wing corner from Sedat was only partially cleared straight to substitute MEHMET GOKÇAYAR who hammered the ball home. 5-0.
86 mins : Güvercinlik conceded a free kick on the edge of the box and SEDAT duly stepped up to send a low shot past the wall and into the net by Mehmet’s left hand post.
Guvercinlik were now praying for the final whistle. FULL TIME SCORE ; 6-0.
When the whistle did come İncirli supporters and players joined in wild celebrations on the pitch, they were heading to the Play Off Finals.
We are going to Finals day! – İncirli players and supporters celebrate
This was my first time watching İncirli and I was very impressed. Their Coaches Özkan and Evren have prepared them well. A very impressive forward line of Ibrahim Çelik, Halil, Bekir and Sedat. Notwithstanding their miserly defence that has only let in 3 goals – I wish them luck in the finals where their noisy and loud supporters will surely make their presence felt.
