HINCKLEY 0 WYCOMBE 0 (Friendly) Tuesday 5th August 1997
A team made up of almost entirely youth team players played out a goalless
draw at Leicestershire side Hinckley. The team was complimented by several
trialists from the area including Lowcan Costello and John Barrett. Ex-Leicester
City defender, Lee Quincey was also given another game to try and impress
John Gregory. Wycombe introduced seven substitutes in the second half,
including new youth team recruit Grant Smith whose father is ex-Brighton
player and teammate of Neil Smillie, Gordon Smith (must score). Smith jnr
was released by Brighton last season and Smillie's connection with the
south coast side gave Wycombe the opportunity to give him a trial.
Now it's down to the serious action - with the starting line-up at Wigan
on Saturday likely to be the side that lost to Reading last Friday. Alan
Beeton looks set to make his Football League debut after putting in a couple
of impressive perforances in the recent freindlies. Match reports will
appear here as normal throughout the season.
WYCOMBE STARTING LINE-UP: Parkin, Costello, Patton,
Forbes, Craker, Lamb, Harkin, Wraight, McCoy, Barrett, Quincey. Att: 300
approx.
CHESHAM UNITED 0 WYCOMBE 3 (Friendly) Monday 4th August 1997
Wycombe cruised to victory against Chesham United at the Meadow. Leading
1-0 at half-time, John Gregory took the opportunity to give most of his
squad a run out in the last serious friendly before the opening day of
the season at Wigan. Paul Read gave Wycombe the lead on 28 minutes
after good approach play by Brown and Carroll and although Taylor was tested
on a couple of occasions, newly promoted Chesham were no match for their
professional counterparts. Alan Beeton set up Mark Stallard from
the left on 63 minutes for Wycombe's number 2. The victory was completed
when McGavin crossed in from the left for Paul McCarthy to head
home on 73 minutes.
Full-time Chesham 0 Wycombe 3
WYCOMBE TEAM: Taylor (sub 68 Parkin),
Ryan (sub 45 Quincey), Beeton, Kavanagh, McCarthy, Forsyth (sub 64 Patton),
Carroll (sub 45 McGavin), Harkin, Read (sub Stallard 45), Scott (sub 73
Wraight), Brown (sub 45 Simpson)
WYCOMBE 0 READING 1 (Friendly) Friday 1st August 1997
A goal in the first minute was enough to give Reading victory over
Wycombe in the last home pre-season friendly of the season. John Gregory
stuck with the squad that is likely to take centre stage at Wigan next
week - Alan Beeton filling in the left side of defence and Keith Ryan taking
the role of right back, both completed 90 minutes, with Beeton having his
best game to date for the Wanderers. Steve Brown replaced Carroll at half-time
and the lack of creativity in midfield cost Wycombe the chance to snatch
anything from this generally dissapointing game.
Reading's ultimately winning goal came after Neville Roach powered through
from the left side of midfield. Martin Taylor appeared to be slow coming
off his line and Roach nipped the ball low under his body. Wycombe
responded without really troubling Reading's 'keeper. On 10 minutes Steve
McGavin did a neat jinx in the box with no reward while four minutes later
Mark Stallard sent over a hard cross from the left but the lunging Read
clipped the ball just wide of the far post. Stallard had another chance
again on 32 minutes when Carroll played on but Stallard's insistence to
get the ball on his right foot cost him the chance. Carroll provided a
good deep cross from the right a couple of minutes before half-time - while
Reading could have increased their lead on the stroke of half-time when
Roach was checked out by the Wycombe defence. Keith Scott replaced Stallard
at half-time and almost immediately gave Wycombe the equaliser when he
fired in from the right side but it was a half of few highlights. Taylor
made a good save on 68 minutes after a low shot to his right but the lack
of commitment from either side made the final whistle from Dermot Gallagher
the most pleasant action of the evening.
Full-time Wycombe 0 Reading 1
WYCOMBE TEAM: Taylor, Ryan, Beeton,
Kavanagh, McCarthy, Forsyth, Carroll (sub 45 Brown), Read, Stallard (sub
45 Scott), McGavin, Simpson Att:1,980
WYCOMBE 3 QPR 2 (Friendly) Friday 25th July 1997
Five more goals but this time with the ratio in Wycombe's favour. Wearing
the smart new yellow and navy quarters for the first time, Wycombe continued
with their neat passing game against their Division One visitors. Mark
Stallard enjoyed a good night's work, scoring two and also going close
on several occasions and 'keeper Mark Taylor had an impressive 45 minutes
before being rested and replaced by Brian Parkin. Gregory gave almost a
full game to ex-Millwall defender Jason Van-Blerk and Leicester cast off
Lee Quincey was used for the final 15 minutes.
Stallard's evening of success began as early as the 3rd minute when his
looping cross from the right, clearly his better side, struck the bar.
QPR were quick to reply with Gavin Peacock thumping a first time volley
just wide of Taylor's right hand post. Wycombe took the lead, however,
in the 12th minute when Dave Carroll conjured up a cross from the right
and Michael Forsyth dived bravely in to head home. Wycombe maintained
the lead until half-time with Taylor commanding his area on most occasions
and giving the defence a more solid look.
Half-time Wycombe 1 QPR 0
It was a defensive mix-up that lead to QPR's equaliser in the 52nd
minute. The unfortunate Brian Parkin being caught out of his goal and ex-Chelsea
man John Spencer finally hitting the ball home from close range.
Four minutes later the visitors were ahead when Spencer scored again,
this time crashing home a header following a left wing cross from Kevin
Gallen. Wycombe's responded well, with first Stallard going close with
a 25 yard dipping half-volley, then on the hour mark McGavin worked well
on the left bye-line before Steve Brown's mis-hit shot was tucked in by
Stallard lurking at the far post. Wycombe claimed victory in the
85th minute when Keith Scott battled his way through from the left side
of midfield - the move ending with an unselfish lay-off to Stallard
who slotted home again - could this be the start of another great SAS partnership?
(you can always dream). Parkin made ammends for his earlier clanger when
he made a spectacular one handed tip over in the 90th minute following
a right wing cross and he survived the resulting corner (just) as Wycombe
hung-on for victory.
Full-time Wycombe 3 QPR 2
WYCOMBE TEAM: Taylor (sub 45 Parkin),
Simpson, Van-Blerk (sub 89 Beeton), Kavanagh, McCarthy, Forsyth, Carroll
(sub 74 Quincey), Scott, Stallard, McGavin (sub 78 Harkin), Brown (sub
78 Wraight) Att:3,620
WYCOMBE 0 ASTON VILLA 5 (Friendly) Friday 18th July 1997
Yes, Collymore played - No, Scotty didn't do the business as Wycombe
were taught a strict footballing lesson by a strong Villa side.A near 7,000
crowd witnessed the season curtain raiser for the Wanderers but despite
a neat passing game, Wycombe lacked any bite up front and the final scoreline
could have been more. Wycombe fans also had the worry of seeing Jason Cousins
carried off in the first half.
Wycombe fell behind in the 13th minute when Martin Taylor advanced well
to block a shot from Savo Milosevic but Dwight Yorke put away the loose
ball. Three minutes later it was 2-0 when a long range effort from the
7 million pound man, Stan Collymore, was punched sky bound by Taylor and
Yorke was on hand again to bundle the ball home on the line.
Wycombe's best spell followed, with Cousins going close after a left wing
cross by Brown on 21 minutes. On 30 minutes Scott headed the ball down
for Reid but his first time shot was turned away By Oakes. The Premier
League side wrapped the game up on 33 minutes, however, when Yorke struck
the ball home low to Taylor's right after a move on the Villa right. Cousins
injury came on 35 minutes when he stretched for a 50/50 ball out on the
left side of the Villa penalty area. The hard man went down clutching his
leg and was replaced shortly afterwards by Michael Simpson. Just before
half-time Scott broke clear from midfield but saw his stabbing shot from
12 yards pushed clear by the Villa 'keeper. It was Wycombe's last serious
assault on the Villa goal.
Half-time Wycombe 0 Villa 3
Villa increased Wycombe's misery in the 58th minute when a right wing
move ended with Taylor palming the ball into the path of Collymore who
had the easiest of tasks of putting the ball into the empty net. Four minutes
later Collymore missed a 'sitter' to delight the cynics in the crowd but
we all know he's worth 120 times more than Keith Scott. Gareth Southgate
completed the scoring on 74 minutes when he flicked the ball over Taylor
from 10 yards (no mention of Euro96 here of course). So, not the best of
openings but the pitch looked nice and well done to Villa for sending their
first team squad - give us a chance next time.
Full-time Wycombe 0 Villa 5
WYCOMBE TEAM: Taylor, Cousins (sub
36 Simpson), Brown, Kavanagh, McCarthy, Forsyth (sub 64 Beeton ), Carroll
(sub 64 Ryan), Scott (sub 63 Stallard), Reid (sub 72 Harkin), Cornforth,
McGavin, Brown
VILLA TEAM: Oakes (sub 45 Bosnich), Charles, Staunton, Southgate,
Sciemeca, Taylor, Draper, Wright, Milosevic, Yorke, Collymore
Att:6,975 - looked more.
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