Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Match Reports March 96
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SATURDAY 30th March WYCOMBE 4 BURNLEY 1
Wycombe took advantage of Burnley's complete lack of conviction up front to complete another high scoring victory at Adams Park, with Keith Ryan putting away two more goals. The visitor's first ever trip to Wycombe started badly when on 8 minutes Steve McGavin slipped the ball back to Miguel Desouza from the right who with his back to goal turned and fired just wide. 4 minutes later Wycombe went ahead, when the holy like Dave Carroll picked up a cross on the right side of the box and flicked the ball back for Ryan to swivel and shoot home from about 12 yards. On 29 minutes Burnley had their best chance of the half when ex-Villa and Everton star Adrian Heath picked up a short ball in the box from Peter Swan but the chance was comfortably gathered by Sieb Dykstra. 2 minutes later Wycombe went 2-0 up when Ryan got his second after heading home another McGavin cross. Just before the break Burnley's Chris Vinnicombe was carried off and replaced by Paul Mahorn.
Half-time entertainment came in the form of Simon Garner being used to make the weekly prize draws. This was much to the dislike of the Burnley fans who remember him well from his days with their rivals Blackburn Rovers - but to the supreme enjoyment of just about everybody else there - great stuff from the hero.
Burnley pulled a goal back on 53 minutes when substitute Mahorn connected with a cross from the left by Kurt Nogan. It proved to be Burnley's last serious effort of the game and on 70 minutes Ryan could have completed his hat-trick when a McGavin cross from the left was poorly headed by Desouza with Ryan waiting behind. On 77 minutes Ryan missed out again when he couldn't quite meet a low cross from Carroll from the right. The game was killed off on 81 minutes, however, when McGavin layed the ball off to Desouza who shot home from 20 yards in precision like style. Desouza was replaced by David Farrell on 83 minutes and he celebrated his brief appearance when he thumped the ball home from close range following a good run into the box by Mickey Bell on the stroke of full-time.
One statastic that was floating around the terraces on Saturday was that the last two victories, and probably most entertaining home games of the season, have been achieved with 10 outfield players signed before Alan Smith arrived!
WYCOMBE TEAM: Dykstra, Cousins, Bell, Howard, Evans, Brown, Carroll, Ryan, McGavin, Desouza (Farrell sub 83), Patterson Subs(not used):Hardyman, Rowbotham Attendance:4,921
TUESDAY 26th March WYCOMBE 5 BRADFORD 2
With under 3,000 Wycombe fans there to see it, Miguel Desouza hit another blistering hat-trick against Bradford to complete the double over the Yorkshire side. The evening could not have started any worse for Wycombe, however, when after only 4 minutes Chris Kiwomya sent a looping shot high over the stranded Sieb Dykstra in the Wycombe goal. With that 'oh no not again' feeling the lowest league crowd at Adams Park since August 1992 saw Bradford almost increase their lead on 21 minutes when a cross from the left wing was headed against the post by Amdy Ormondroyd. 2 minutes later, however, Wycombe were level when Steve McGavin made a rare run down the right wing and crossed for Desouza to slot home. Paul Hyde was socialising behind the goal during the first half and saw Keith Ryan try his luck from outside the box on 34 minutes and the deflected shot looped over Ward in the Bradford goal to make it 2-1. McGavin could have increased the lead on 41 minutes when his shot from the left flew across the face of the goal.
Dykstra and Wycombe had another scare 9 minutes into the second half when he fell back into the post while saving a shot but he recovered after treatment. On 63 minutes Wycombe increased their lead to 3-1 when another impressive run by McGavin, this time down the left wing, was side footed home by Desouza from close range. Bradford reduced the margin to 3-2 after 72 minutes when substitute Carl Shutt shot home from the edge of the penalty area. The 2 goal margin was restored just 3 minutes later, however, when Desouza completed his hat-trick following an incredible run down the left wing, brushing a defender aside (definetely no foul!) before powering the ball past the advancing 'keeper. Wycombe completed the goal feast on 82 minutes when Terry Evans latched onto a loose ball in the area following another near miss by Desouza.
WYCOMBE TEAM: Dykstra, Cousins, Bell, Howard, Evans, Brown, Carroll, Ryan, McGavin, Desouza, Patterson Subs(not used):Hardyman, Rowbotham, Farrell. Attendance:3,021
SATURDAY 23rd March ROTHERHAM 0 WYCOMBE 0
It was Wycombe's lack of finishing power that cost them the chance of taking all three points against a struggling, yet Wembley bound Rotherham United. The Wanderers fielded an unchanged lineup from the side who had beaten Brentford seven days previous - Simon Garner not even making it to the subs bench.
It was Rotherham who began the game the stronger - Andy Roscoe seeing a shot deflected wide by Gary Patterson after 9 minutes, but it was Dave Carroll who scared the home fans when his 19th minute free kick from the edge of the box was fumbled by Matthew Clarke in the Rotherham goal but Terry Howard put the loose ball over the bar. Keith Ryan should have done better from a header after 26 minutes before Nigel Jemson saw his header fly just over the Wycombe bar 3 minutes later a the other end. The best chances of the half for both sides fell in a two minute spell, when first Wycombe on 35 minutes saw Patterson hit the bar from over 25 yards, then Jemson was denied by the feet of Sieb Dykstra following a point blank header.
The 200 or so Wycombe fans who had made the journey north saw their team dominate most of the second half but John Williams was guilty of wasting at least two chances before being replaced on 70 minutes by Miguel Desouza following an injury. It appeared that Wycombe had settled for a point long before the end and Rotherham forced a series of late corners culminating in a close range effort by Gary Bowyer being scrambled away by the resolute Wycombe defence. Wycombe's final chance of the day fell to Desouza after a left wing cross by McGavin but his misdirected header summed up the day for Wycombe as they emphasised their mid-table form.
WYCOMBE TEAM: Dykstra, Cousins, Bell, Howard, Evans, Hardyman, Carroll, Ryan, McGavin, Williams (sub Desouza 70), Patterson Subs(not used):Rowbotham, Farrell. Attendance:2,775
SATURDAY 16th March WYCOMBE 2 BRENTFORD 1
Three points, relegation fears quashed, local rivals beaten, more than two shots on target. Everything is wonderful again. NOT! Most Wycombe fans will admit this was an improvement on recent results but Brentford did very little to test the Wycombe defence - with Dykstra, on his home debut, only making one serious save and that was in the 90th minute.
The game turned Wycombe's way after 24 minutes when a cross from the left wing by Micky Bell was headed home by the now legendery Dave Carroll. The lead was retained for just 3 minutes, however, Nicky Forster burst through and made no mistake in sticking the ball hard and low past Dykstra's right. Wycombe had a chance to regain the lead on 35 minutes when another cross from Bell failed to make the connection with Carroll. Half Time 1-1
The Wanderers began the second half in determined style and after just two minutes Terry Evans had a header cleared off the line following a Patterson corner. On 61 minutes a loose ball fell in the box for Carroll but the chance was blocked but from the resulting corner by Hardyman the ball was headed powerfully home by ex-Bee Terry Evans. Wycombe dominated the remainder of the game and had a further chance through Williams on 70 minutes, after a rapid recovery from an injury in midfield. The best chance to increase the lead, however, came with just 4 minutes remaining when Williams was through on goal and squared the ball to McGavin who forced an excellent save from the Brentford 'keeper. A final minute scare came for the home crowd when a long range shot from Forster was tipped over by Dykstra but he safely gathered the resulting corner. The final whistle signaled a relieved cheer from the Adams Park faithful but it was dissapointing to see Alan Smith and assistant David Kemp head straight for the dressing room while the players acknowledged the crowd with applause.
WYCOMBE TEAM: Dykstra, Cousins, Bell, Howard, Evans, Hardyman, Carroll, Ryan, McGavin, Williams, Patterson Subs(not used):DeSouza, Rowbotham, Farrell. Attendance:4,912
SATURDAY 9th March 1996 SHREWSBURY 1 WYCOMBE 1
No surprises at Gay Meadow when two of the most out of form sides shared the points. Wycombe gave new on loan 'keeper Sieb Dykstra his debut in a Wycombe shirt, while out field McGavin came in for Desouza and Gary Patterson replaced Farrell.
In a relatively entertaining encounter, it was Wycombe who opened the scoring on 12 minutes when Cousins centered from the right for Keith Ryan to spectacularly head past Edwards in the Shrewsbury goal. The 300 or so Wycombe fans who made the journey to Shropshire saw the locals pull level ten minutes later when a series of passes in the box ended with Ian Stevens back healing past a helpless Dykstra. Wycombe dominated the remainder of the half with the best effort coming on 25 minutes when Williams flicked on for McGavin, who centred to ex-Shrew Gary Patterson whose header was deflected wide. Terry Evans also had a shot deflected wide ten minutes before the break but the half ended all square.
Nine minutes into the second half, Carroll should have done better after a Williams shot was turned away but Wycombe's best chance of the half came on 57 minutes when a pin point cross-field pass by Bell picked out McGavin who crossed for Carroll in the box only to see Ryan somehow fail to beat the 'keeper from close range. Shrewsbury's best effort of the half followed on 75 minutes when the impressive Mark Taylor was clear through but Cousins scrambled back to clear the ball off the line.
The final score of 1-1 added to both side's bad sequence of results. Shrewsbury have not won a League game since January 2nd while Wycombe can only look at this result as an improvement on the recent game with Brighton (not difficult, I know!).
WYCOMBE TEAM: Dykstra, Cousins, Bell, Howard, Evans, Brown, Carroll, Ryan, McGavin (sub 81 Desouza), Williams, Patterson Subs(not used):Rowbotham, Hardyman Attendance:2,866
WEDNESDAY 6th March 1996 WYCOMBE 0 BRIGHTON 2
Just how low can Wycombe go? The lowest home gate of the season witnessed another lack lustre display from the Wanderers and the home supporters are now quickly losing faith in 'public relations expert' Alan Smith. Two second half goals by struggling Brighton let the seasiders cruise home to an easy victory and take Wycombe's run to just two victories in their last 20 competitive fixtures. The highlight of the first half for the Wycombe supporters was watching the full moon rise above the Hillbottom Road end before seeing Roberts tip a header around the post after 28 minutes. Brighton opened the scoring on 54 minutes when Geoff Minton struck home following a free kick on the right. Desperate measures on 64 minutes brought on Hardyman for the ever disappointing Farrell and with Bell now pushing up front, Wycombe enjoyed their best spell. Almost immediately Bell crossed for Williams to force the ball home but the goal was ruled out for a foul on the 'keeper. On 74 minutes Wycombe introduced David Markman for his Football League debut and made his mark within a minute with a hard challenge on the Brighton 'keeper. The game was buried for Wycombe with ten minutes remaining when sub Kevin McGarrigle slotted home a cross from the left and for the second game running Wycombe fans had to bear chants of 'Can we play you every week?' from the Brighton fans.
WYCOMBE TEAM: Roberts, Cousins, Bell, Howard, Evans, Brown, Carroll, Ryan, Desouza (sub 74 Markman), Williams, Farrell (sub 64 Hardyman) Subs:Patterson (not used) Attendance:3,466
SATURDAY 2nd March 1996 WYCOMBE 1 SWINDON 2
Two goals in the opening 20 minutes for the League leaders set the scene for this match. Ex-Wycombe striker Ty Gooden opened the scoring on 4 minutes when he accurately struck home from the edge of the box and beat Roberts to his right. Swindon added to their lead after 19 minutes when Peter Thorne won a 50/50 ball with Roberts and the shot looped into the net. With Swindon's 2000 plus following making up Wycombe's biggest home gate of the season and chanting "can we play you every week", everything was pointing towards a goal riot. The second half began on a similar vien and it was only thanks to an excellent save by Roberts on 57 minutes from Wayne Allison that the scored remained at 2-0. A minute later, however, it was 2-1 when Farrell sent in a cross from the left that was flicked on by Carroll for Desouza to strike home his 11th League goal of the season. The Wanderers best spell followed and on 70 minutes Bell had a shot deflected that Frank Talia in the Swindon goal had to head away to avoid a back pass. The best chance of an equaliser came on 75 minutes when another Farrell cross just failed to connect with Dave Carroll. 4 minutes later Bell had a good run into the box but the chance was deflected into the side netting. Swindon comfortably held on for their three points and the closing minutes saw Terry Evans, returning from injury, lucky to stay on the pitch when he kicked out "off the ball" at Kevin Horlock - the referee booking Horlock for the initial challenge but leaving Evans unpunished having previously been booked.
WYCOMBE TEAM: Roberts, Cousins, Bell, Howard, Evans, Brown, Carroll, Ryan, Desouza, Williams, Farrell Subs:Patterson, Stapleton and Hardyman (all not used) Attendance:6,457
VERCO EXTEND SPONSORSHIP
VERCO Office Furniture have extended their existing sponsorship deal with the Club for another three years. Verco who first sponsorsed the Wanderers in 1988 are believed to be the longest running sponsors in the Endsleigh League. The deal, which runs until 1999, puts to bed the rumours that Virgin were due to announce a sponsorship deal with the Club. Virgin have sponsored numerous matchday activities and recently took a full page advert in the programme. Verco are based just over one mile from the ground and must be delighted with the new deal.
MIZUNO TO MANUFACTURE NEW KIT
Japanese sports manufacturers MIZUNO will supply the Wanderers with their playing kit from next season. It is understood that current kit providers Vandanel will continue with their Leisure Wear range. The new deal is for two years with an option for a further two years and will tie in with the new design of kit to be announced before the end of the season. The Club have asked supporters for their opinions and suggestions for the new design and have received an overwhelming vote in favour of keeping the quartered design. Supporters got the chance to choose between two new designs in a recent home programme, although many supporters objected to both designs. The results will influence the Club in their final decision. Both of the existing second choice kits will be scrapped along with the introduction of the new look blue shirts. MIZUNO are best known for the manufacture of golf equipment but have recently moved into football with Port Vale, Watford, Swindon and Tranmere Rovers all using their shirts.
