07/07/2022
MIRACLE @ ALPHA: stunning strike completes comeback
Basking in their best football season for many years, Cromwell FC held a special lunch on Saturday to unveil their new Five Stags and Gold Cider livery.
By halftime, in their home match against Wakatipu United, that celebration was already a memory. An efficient Queenstown line-up had profited from both lethargy and mistakes at the back to hold a comfortable 2-nil lead.
Worse was to follow. The first Queenstown foray after the break made the score three-nil, and that looked to be that. The usual team stars were all having shockers and coach Shane Norton was forced to ring the changes.
One of those was the introduction of Vas-y Francky on the right wing and the French expat instantly galvanised Cromwell’s attack. An outstanding 30 yard strike from fellow Frenchman Laurent Dugast pulled one back and then happened the incident that would inject real spark into the Cromwell cause.
Speedy forward Flynn Reyntjes was fouled in the box and after some mutual verbals, Wakatipu’s outstanding goalie saved the penalty. The ensuing confrontation sparked the home team and the next twenty minutes was a series of relentless attacks upon the Wakatipu goal, repelled by some incredible saves by Wakatipu’s outstanding goalie.
Finally a delightful chip from midfielder Adam Smith found a diving Michele Albertini at the far goal and the header reduced the deficit to one. And yet that damned opposition goalie kept playing Horatio on the bridge and the game looked to be gone.
Enter Vas-y Francky and a goal that will live long in the memories of those present and privileged to witness it. He burst down the right wing, pouncing onto a bouncing ball and without hesitation drove it from 25 metres out into the right top corner.
It was so good he was engulfed by players and spectators alike from all parts of the ground.
The final score of 3-all left Cromwell in 4th place out of 12 teams after 8 rounds of the competition, one point behind Wakatipu. Without question, this has been a season to remember already.
