Eagles fly high
DEFENDING TRNC football champions Yenicami entered the New Year in top spot after two wins at the end of December.
The Eagles were flying high following a 2-1 away win against Cihangir on December 23 and then a 4-0 victory at home to Türk Ocağı Limasol five days later which took them on to 30 points from 15 games.
The Lefkoşa oufit have now won their last four games on the trot and are unbeaten in seven. Güzelyurt side Binatlı ended 2017 in second place on 29 after dropping two points from their two ties over the festive season.
They were held to a 2-2 draw by Mağusa Türk Gücü on Christmas Eve before redeeming themselves with a 3-1 win over Gençler Birliği.
Title chasers GAU Çetinkaya and Doğan Türk Birliği (DTB) completed the first half of the season on 28 points each. The two sides squared up to each other in a 1-1 draw at Girne’s 20 Temmuz stadium in their final fixture of the year.
The closely fought match was marred by ugly scenes following the final whistle, when disgruntled DTB supporters tried to attack referee Mehmet Sezener and his assistants.
They had to take refuge in a changing room while police officers and club officials restrained the angry mob.
Championship contenders Küçük Kaymaklı saw their hopes dented after back-to-back losses to GAU Çetinkaya and Merit Alsancak Yeşilova left them in fifth position on 25 points.
At the opposite end of the 16-team table Ozanköy remain rooted to the bottom on 11 points after failing to win either of their two fixtures. A 1-1 draw away to Baf Ülkü Yurdu was followed by a 1-0 defeat at home to Lefke.
Cihangir overcame their loss to Yenicami by thrashing Gençlik Gücü 50 at home, their biggest win of the season. The result lifted them on to 16 points and out of the bottom three. Yalova and Yeni Boğaziçi ended the year in 14th and 15th places respectively as players and coaches started a four-week winter break. An analysis of the first half of the season showed that Yenicami has scored the most goals, 37, and also had the best goal difference, +17. In contrast Yeni Boğaziçi managed to score just 10 times in their 15 matches while Ozanköy finished on a goal difference of -19. The league’s meanest defence belonged to Merit Alsancak Yeşilova, who conceded 17 goals, while Yalova have been the most generous, letting in 33. Yenicami and GAU Çetinkaya won the most matches, nine each, while Ozanköy won just twice. Yenicami also had the best home record of the division while Baf Ülkü Yurdu and Binatlı chalked up the highest tally of points on the road, 13 apiece. Merit Alsancak Yeşilova shared the spoils seven times, more than any other side. Binatlı had the fewest defeats, losing just twice, compared to Türk Ocağı Limasol, who have lost on nine occasions.