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| 1993-1994-RESULTS, SCORERS, ATTENDANCES - MORE REPORTS | 1993-1994 RETRO INDEX |
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Wycombe Wanderers 3 Cardiff City 2 Tuesday 14th December 1993 Auto Glass (Football League) Trophy 
Wanderers continued a hectic season of cup action on Tuesday 14th December 1993 when Cardiff City were the visitors to Adams Park in a Second Round Autoglass Trophy tie. In a tie played in bleak conditions, Wycombe included midfielder Paul Shepstone in their line-up for the first time following his release from Motherwell.After a goalless first 45 minutes, it was Wanderers who broke the deadlock shortly after the start of the second half when Tim Langford fired home following a goal mouth scramble. However, City levelled on 69 minutes Cohen Griffiths was left unmarked as his cross-shot beat Hyde. Wanderers hit back four minutes later when an Evans header was adjudged to have crossed the line after Cousins had floated in a free-kick. Wanderers fans in the 2,703 attendance were already thinking of the next round when a last minute goal from Phil Stant forced the tie into extra-time. It would have been no surprise to see City go on and win this tie but Dave Carroll had other ideas. During extra-time he started on a 40 yard weaving run into the penalty area that culminated with a shot that took a deflection before Steve Guppy was on hand to smash the ball past Mark Grew in the City goal. Hyde pulled off a great save near the end to prevent the tie going to penalties and set-up a Southern Area Quarter-Final away to Colchester United. .
Bucks Free Press - Nick Goodman reporting from Adams Park: Soggy Adams Park rejoiced at Wanderers’ latest conquest of a Second Division club after the shivering fans endured a tense half-hour of extra time in the Autoglass Trophy on Tuesday night. But it was probably worth getting a soaking to see Wycombe end Cardiff’s 12-match unbeaten run and claim their sixth Second Division scalp. Apart from goals by Tim Langford, Terry Evans, and Steve Guppy, what was most satisfying was Blues’ character and stamina, especially in energy-sapping extra time. After an uneventful, goalless first half Wanderers twice took the lead, only for Cardiff to force extra time with a last-gasp equaliser. Once Guppy had sealed Blues’ seventh victory over Division Two opposition this season, it was time to contemplate a southern quarter-final at arch-rivals Colchester. “That was the sixth or seventh Second Division side to have fallen to us this year. It was a great effort, really tremendous, I am really pleased,” enthused Wycombe manager Martin O’Neill afterwards. Although the crowd was only 2,703, the weather was dreadful and O’Neill, in paying tribute to the supporters, remarked: “I thought it was a fantastic crowd for us.” Langford, who opened Blues’ goal account with his eighth of the season, said: “I think it was a good game for the fans. Obviously the result was right at the end of it and I think we just about deserved to win it.” And on meeting Colchester in the quarter finals he added: “On our day we know we can beat them there is no reason why we cannot beat them.” Wanderers, who took time to grow into Tuesday’s match, were boosted by the presence of goalkeeper Paul Hyde, who had been an injury doubt, while rested midfielder Hakan Hayrettin gave Paul Shepstone his senior debut. Cardiff made the brighter start: their movements were sharper and their passing more penetrating. But with an infuriating number of offside decisions, much of the play was bogged down in midfield. The Bluebirds created a chance on 26 minutes when Welsh under-2 1 international Nathan Blake and Anthony Bird set up Nick Richardson, who made a mess of his shot. Wycombe’s Tony Hemmings headed straight at keeper Mark Grew but Blues should have taken the lead on 34 minutes. Hemmings cleverly put Langford through, but with time to pick his spot, Langford could only fire wide. Hemmings struck a low shot which Grew did well to save a minute later. But when Blake skillfully found a clear route deep into Wycombe’s area his dangerous cross tested Hyde. A minute before the break Cardiff won a promising position outside Wycombe’s penalty area but Richardson drove the free kick wide. Wycombe made the perfect start to the second half, taking the lead within the first minute. Guppy crossed crisply, Evans’ close-range effort was blocked by Grew, and Langford tucked home the rebound. Play became increasingly scrappy in the second half, Cardiff’s distribution lost its polish, and Wanderers’ confidence rose. But Cardiff levelled on 69 minutes when Blake helped to tee up Cohen Griffith whose low shot went in off a post. Wycombe regained the lead on 73 minutes from a well-worked free kick. Jason Cousins played an imaginative ball to Guppy and his cross picked out Evans. It appeared that Grew might have kept out Evans’ subsequent header but referee Mr Bigger ruled that it had crossed the line. Wycombe went close when Guppy’s corner was headed off the line by Cardiff’s Terry Evans. But right at the end of normal time, Blake’s free kick was met by substitute Garry Thompson’s header which thundered off a post, only for Phil Stant to direct home Cardiff’s second. Eight minutes into extra time Dave Carroll’s super run down the right resulted in a lovely cross which Grew appeared to fumble, Guppy ramming home the loose ball. But in the second half of extra time, Cardiff ought to have come back again. Thompson’s piledriver was brilliantly turned away for a corner by Hyde, and then Blake’s header was cleared off the line. |
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