All the news stories from May 2006
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ADAMS PARK RETURNS
(Tuesday 30th May 2006)
The Club are set to release a press statement confirming the return of 'Adams Park' as the name of the stadium when the contract with the current sponsor expires on 31st May 2006. However, as previously reported, the Club are actively seeking a new sponsor as well as undertaking a survey amongst supporters asking for their views on the matter. It's understood that results from the survey, which will be conducted by supporters groups, are only likely to be acted upon if a figure of 1,500 responses is reached. Otherwise, it will revert to a Board decision. |
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BOSS HUNT
(Tuesday 30th May 2006)
In a familiar scenario at Wycombe Wanderers, the hunt has begun for what will the seventh Manager in ten years at the Club. The Club advertised through the national press over the weekend for the vacant position with no new signings being made until the new manager is appointed. Also until then MD Steve Hayes has taken on the full responsibility of holding talks with players out of contract. Early names in the frame for the Manager's job at Wycombe include Danny Wilson (ex-MK Dons, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley) and Ian Holloway (ex-Bristol Rovers) and currently on 'gardening leave' from QPR. |
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JG SAYS HE WAS SACKED
(Tuesday 30th May 2006)
John Gorman has added further comment to his departure from Wycombe via the BFP Midweek published on Tuesday. He is quoted as saying, "I wanted my job back. I didn't want to go. I've definitely been sacked. It's got to be known that I didn't want to leave." He went on to add, "I never once said I wanted to quit. They have made the decision that I'm not up to the job but I will prove them wrong." Gorman says he is looking forward to getting back into management at the earliest opportunity. |
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CHELTENHAM WIN PLAY-OFF
(Sunday 28th May 2006)
A solitary goal from Steve Guinan on 63 minutes was enough to see Cheltenham Town overcome Grimsby Town in the 'League Two' play-off final at Cardiff on Sunday. Cheltenham, who finished 6 points behind The Mariners in the table, also missed a penalty on 70 minutes when Grant McCann's spotkick was saved after the same player had been fouled by Curtis Woodhouse. The attendance at the Millennium Stadium was 29,196. |
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REACTION FROM JG
(Saturday 27th May 2006)
John Gorman has spoken out after the statement on Friday afternoon confirming his departure from the Club. In an emotional interview for BBC 3 Counties Radio he said "I'm more than devastated to leave the club because it's a club that I love" He then went on to disagree that he wasn't ready to return to his job, adding "In my opinion, I'm ready to start work as soon as possible.... But I have to respect the opinion of the Board, if they feel it's in the best interests of the club then I have to accept that decision." You can hear the complete interview via the real player link on the BBC 3 Counties website.  BBC 3 Counties
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JG RELIEVED OF DUTIES
(Friday 26th May 2006)
Following speculative stories on Friday morning, the Club confirmed at around 12.30pm on Friday that John Gorman has been relieved of his duties as Wycombe Manager. A statement on the official website (wwfc.com) read "The Board of Directors of WWFC have today reluctantly agreed to release John Gorman from his position as Manager of this Club. The Board believe John needs a great deal more time and professional help to deal with the tragic loss of his wife. In the meantime, we need to continue with the operation of the Football Club and a financial package has been agreed with John which he is satisfied with. The Directors and staff would like to thank John for his excellent contribution to the Football Club over the last 18 months and trust the next period of his life with what we have agreed today will enable him to stabilise and become stronger." |
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PLAYER CONTRACT NEWS
(Friday 26th May 2006)
With six Wanderers players are out of contract at the end of June, the 'who is staying, who is going?' question is now doing the rounds. Coming to the end of May it looks like Joe Burnell, Clint Easton and Steve Williams will all sign new deals. Williams has apparently agree a one year deal according to reports in the BFP while Burnell and Easton are understood to be in negotiations with Club MD Steve Hayes over the terms of two year deals. A question mark still hangs over the future of Danny Senda who has attracted interest from QPR, Luton Town and Hibernian but will talk first with Steve Hayes on Tuesday 30th May. Stuart Nethercott has been released following his loan spell with Woking but there is still uncertainty over the future of 22 year old Jonny Dixon with Wycombe. Meanwhile, week to week contract player Rob Lee will discuss his future with Wycombe once his involvement in Soccer Aid Charity has finished. |
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JG FUTURE IN DOUBT
(Friday 26th May 2006)
It's looking ever likely that John Gorman will not return to the Manager's position at the Club following further comments in the BFP by Wanderers MD Steve Hayes. Hayes says that Gorman is still suffering grief from the loss of his wife through cancer and added, "We have got to sit down as a board. We have to assess everything. We don't want to make a mistake now and find we are struggling at the start of next season." The Wycombe boss took compasionate leave in April 2006 following the death of his wife but Club officials insisted that he would return for the start of next season. COTN News Archive - April 2006 |
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MARK PHILO INQUEST VERDICT
(Thursday 25th May 2006)
The inquest into the car accident that killed Mark Philo along with the driver of the other car had revealed that the Wycombe player was over the alcoholic limit for driving. The accident happened in the early hours of 14th January 2006. Coroner Peter Bedford recorded a verdict of unlawful killing of 47 year old Patricia Gammon, and a verdict of accidental death for the 21 year old Wycombe player. Report from Bucks Free Press website |
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DATES FOR NEXT SEASON
(Monday 22nd May 2006)
The answer to the obligatory 'when are the League fixtures out?' question is "at 10am on Thursday 22nd June 2006". The Football League season will start on Saturday 5th August, two weeks before the Premiership. The First Round of the 'League Cup' wil be either 8th August or 22nd August, with the First Round of the 'Football League Trophy' set for 17th October. Also worth noting that Saturday games that could be effected by international games fall on 2nd September, 7th October and 24th March. The final weekend of the Football League season is 5/6 May 2007 with the play-offs set to return to the usual reverse order of 'League 2' on 26th May, 'League 1' on 27th May and 'The Championship' on 28th May and a venue of the new Wembley. |
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ONE-ONE FANZINE
(Monday 22nd May 2006)
A reminder that Issue 26 of the One-One fanzine has finally been compiled and the 44 page issue includes input from the regular contributors plus an exclusive interview with former Wanderers Manager Jim Kelman who talks openly about his time at Wycombe. The issue will be sent to anybody who contacts the One-One team and pays up a fee of £1 (including postage and packing). See the link for details.
One-One - Issue Guide and contact details |
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HEREFORD BACK UP
(Saturday 20th May 2006)
Wanderers will face Hereford United in 'League Two' next season after they beat Halifax Town 3-2 after extra-time in the Conference Play-Off Final at Leicester City's stadium on Saturday evening. Ryan Green got the crucial goal in the 107th minute after the score had finished 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes. Hereford lost their place in the Football League at the end of the 1996/97 season and last played the Wanderers in the 1993/94 season. Wanderers failure to gain promotion this season means that the 2006/7 season will see Conference Champions Accrington Stanley meet Wycombe for the first time at any level. |
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WYCOMBE BOW OUT
(Thursday 18th May 2006)
Wanderers' season came to a disappointing finish on Thursday evening at Cheltenham Town after a 0-0 scoreline saw a 2-1 aggregate victory for the home side. Backed by close to 1,500 fans Wycombe had the far greater efforts at goal but again failed to seriously test the opposing goalkeeper. Will Antwi came closest to taking the match into extra time when his goalbound header was blocked with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Cheltenham 0 Wycombe 0 - Match report and reaction
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WINNERS FACE GRIMSBY
(Tuesday 16th May 2006)
The overall winners of the play-off semi-final between Wycombe and Cheltenham will face Grimsby Town in the final in Cardiff on Sunday 28th May. The Mariners secured their trip to Wales after beating Lincoln City 2-1 in the 2nd leg at Blundell Park on Tuesday evening and winning 3-1 on aggregate. Gary Jones was sent off for Grimsby in stoppage and will miss the final. |
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SECOND LEG COUNTDOWN
(Tuesday 16th May 2006)
Steve Brown says he is in confident mood ahead of Thursday's semi-final second leg at Whaddon Road. He told the Midweek BFP, "I am very confident because I know we will score at Cheltenham. All the pressure is on them now. A lot of their players will be jittery and I'm not sure they have got the experienced players to handle that." Early team news for Wycombe has no new injuries to report with Rob Lee hoping to play despite needing ten stitches in his eye injury from Saturday's first leg at Adams Park. Meanwhile, as of Monday evening, Wanderers had less than 100 tickets of their 1,500 allocation left for the match, while Cheltenham had around 500 terrace places still available. The overall capacity of the ground reduced from 7,000 to around 6,700 due to segregation measures and to facilitate Sky cameras and their commentary box. |
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LOOKING FOR AN AWAY WIN
(Monday 15th May 2006)
Wanderers will travel to Cheltenham on Thursday knowing that they need to register their 11th away victory of the season if they are to make it to the Play-Off Final at Cardiff on Sunday 28th May. With away goals having no relevance in the event of a tied aggregate score, it means that if Wanderers win by any one goal margin a further 30 minutes of extra-time would be played, with a penalty shoot-out to determine the winners should the aggregate scores still remain level after 120 minutes. Wanderers will take heart that only the three clubs promoted automatically from 'League Two' have won more games away from home this season. |
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ANOTHER RECORD BROKEN
(Monday 15th May 2006)
Wanderers' defeat to Cheltenham at Adams Park set another Club record in a remarkable season for unbeaten and losing sequences. The 2-1 reverse to The Robins was the first time the Club had lost five straight home competitive fixtures in its 119 year history. The previous worst home losing sequence came during the 1985/86 season when Wycombe lost four games in a row at Loakes Park. Prior to that there were similar sequences in the 1912/13 and 1898/99 seasons. Earlier this season Wanderers set a Club record of 21 games without defeat. |
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CONFERENCE PLAY-OFF
(Monday 15th May 2006)
This season's Conference Play-Off Final will be between Hereford United and Halifax Town and will take place at Leicester City's stadium on Saturday 20th May (kick-off 5.30pm). The two legged semi's saw Hereford beat Morecambe 4-3 on aggregate, while Halifax overcame Grays Athletic 5-4. The outcome of the Final will see a former Football League regain their elite status. Hereford lost their place at the end of the 1996/97 season while Halifax first dropped out of the League in 1992/93 to be replaced by Wycombe. They returned for the 1998/99 season only to be relegated again three years later. |
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WYCOMBE 1 CHELTENHAM 2
(Saturday 13th May 2006)
Wanderers lost 2-1 to Cheltenham Town in the first-leg of the 'League Two' play-off semi-final at Adams Park on Saturday evening with Tommy Mooney's stoppage time strike giving Wycombe hope of still reaching the final in Cardiff. Goals from John Finnigan on 43 minutes and Steve Guinan on 75 minutes had given the visitors a 2-0 lead and with 90 minutes on the clock it looked like the Gloucestershire side would take that advantage back to Whaddon Road next Thursday. However, four minutes into stoppage time Russell Martin's free-kick found its way to Mooney who smashed the ball home from inside the penalty area. Wycombe 1 Cheltenham 2 - Match report and reaction |
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INJURY UPDATE
(Friday 12th May 2006)
Jermaine Easter is understood to have recovered well from his twisted ankle picked up on the swamp like pitch at Peterborough last Saturday. The former Stockport striker returned to training on Tuesday and is hoping to retain his place in the side for the play-off semi-finals with Cheltenham. Not so good news for Joe Burnell who had a similar injury but was forced to miss training for the first three days of the week. He will take a fitness test on Friday before a decision is made whether to risk him against The Robins. Elsewhere, Tommy Mooney has delayed a hernia operation in order to compete in the play-offs. Wanderers top scorer noticed the problem following the game at Rushden and has only trained twice since. He was rested for the game at Peterborough but says he hopes that a combination of adreneline and painkillers will get him through the season. The Club were considering sending him to Germany for an operation but Mooney wants that to happen after picking up a play-off winners medal. |
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PLAY-OFF TICKETS
(Wednesday 10th May 2006)
Wanderers ticketing priority system for the away leg with Cheltenham Town on Thursday 18th May 2006 had meant that as of Wednesday afternoon only around 500 of the 1,500 away allocation had been sold. Only from Thursday 11th May will existing season ticket holders who have not renewed for next season be allowed to purchase their tickets, with any remaining tickets going on general sale after the home leg Cheltenham on Saturday 13th May. It's understood that both of the Wycombe Trust's have complained to the Club regarding the arrangements, claiming that it is against the Club's own Customer Charter.
See the official website for full ticket details for both legs
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PLAY-OFF INCOME
(Wednesday 10th May 2006)
Wanderers will receive £40,000 TV rights monies as a result of their involvement in the two-legged play-off semi-final with Cheltenham Town. All four 'League Two' semi-finals are being shown live on Sky TV and each of the four clubs will receive £20,000 for each leg. However, gate receipts for each match may not be as potentially lucrative as expected. After expenses are paid out for team travel, stewarding, referees and other sundry matchday costs, 50% of the remaining gate money is given to the Football League which is then used to help cover their seasonal administration costs with any surplus being divided equally between the 72 member clubs. The remaining 50% of the gate receipts are then added to the 50% from the other three semi-finals and then split equally between the four competing clubs. |
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JG TOLD TO TAKE MORE TIME
(Tuesday 9th May 2006)
John Gorman has been told to take more time off on compasionate leave despite wanting to return to the managerial helm for the remainder of the season. The Wycombe boss returned from a break in the USA last week and according to reports in the local press wanted to return to the bench for Saturday's game at Peterborough. However, the Wanderers Board decided against it with MD Steve Hayes saying, "He's not over it and we didn't think it was right for anybody for him to come straight back in." Instead Gorman was sent on scouting duty to watch Cheltenham take on Mansfield. The Board say that Steve Brown, assisted by Keith Ryan, will continue to pick the side for the two games with Cheltenham and a further decision will be made if Wanderers reach the final at Cardiff. Hayes added ""John is under a lot of strain and the most important thing is that John will start next season as our manager." |
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PLAY-OFF STATS
(Monday 8th May 2006)
Wycombe will go into this season's play-offs as one of only two teams with a 100% record in the end of season tournament first introduced by the Football League in 1987. Wycombe's only previous play-off appearance came at the end of the 1993/94 season and saw home and away victories over Carlisle United before success against Preston North End in the final at Wembley. Sheffield Wednesday are the other side with a 100% play-off record having won all three of their games last season to achieve promotion to 'The Championship'. Meanwhile, opponents Cheltenham Town have appeared in the play-offs on one previous occassion - The Robins finished 4th in Division Three in 2001/2 and drew both legs of their semi against Hartlepool Town but went through on penalties before beating Rushden & Diamonds 3-1 in the final at Cardiff. Wycombe finished 6th this season and the last club to be promoted from the bottom division having finished in that position was Cambridge United in 1989/90. However, Blackpool were promoted in 2000/1 after ending the season in 7th. Play-offs 1993/1994 - chairboys.co.uk archive feature |
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INJURY UPDATE
(Monday 8th May 2006)
Joe Burnell and Jermaine Easter are due to see medical specialists on Monday to determine the extent of their injuries picked up in Saturday's game at Peterborough. Both players twisted ankles in the match at London Road with Easter being forced to limp off in the 60th minute and Burnell in the dying moments, leaving Wycombe playing out the closing stages with ten men. Meanwhile, as reported on COTN on 18th April, Sergio Torres is unlikely to return to play for Wycombe this season and is targeting a return for the pre-season games 2006/7. |
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L1 AND L2 UPS AND DOWN
(Monday 8th May 2006)
Wycombe will be hoping the play-off system enables them to join Carlisle United, Northampton Town and Leyton Orient in 'League One' next season. If that is the case then Wanderers would bye-pass the relegated foursome of Hartlepool, MK Dons, Swindon Town and Walsall. At the other end of the 'League One' table there was a dramatic double promotion for Essex with Southend United and Colchester United gaining automatic promotion to 'The Championship'. Brentford, Huddersfield, Barnsley and Swansea City will meet in the play-offs for the third spot. Coming down from the second flight of English football are Crewe, Millwall and Brighton. Colchester's promotion will see them play the 2006/7 season at the highest level of football in their history. |
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L2 LAST DAY DRAMA
(Monday 8th May 2006)
Oxford United were relegated to the Conference after losing 3-2 at home to Leyton Orient on the final day of the regular season. United needed three points to retain their Football League status but in front of a sell-out 12,243 crowd they were still chasing a winner when they succumbed to a stoppage time goal from Lee Steele. That goal came moments after O's fans had heard that a last minute equaliser for Northampton against Grimsby had put their team into an automatic promtion spot ahead of The Mariners. For Oxford United, they will play non-League football for the first time in 44 years and comes 18 years after they were playing top division football. Oxford United - Quick Guide |
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PLAY-OFF DETAILS
(Sunday 7th May 2006)
Wycombe will play the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Cheltenham Town at Adams Park on Saturday 13th May with a 6.05pm kick-off. The second leg will take place at Whaddon Road on Thursday 18th May with a 7.45pm kick-off. The other semi-final will see Grimsby Town travel to Lincoln City on Saturday 13th May with a 12.05pm kick-off, with the return leg on Tuesday 16th May with a 7.45pm kick-off. All games have been scheduled to allow Sky TV to show live coverage. The winners of the semis will face each other in the Final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Sunday 28th May, kick-off 3pm. This is also being shown live on Sky TV. Tickets details for the home and away games with Cheltenham are available from the Wanderers official website. Cheltenham Town - Quick Guide |
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PETERBORO 0 WYCOMBE 2
(Saturday 6th May 2006)
Wanderers won 2-0 at Peterborough United on the final day of the regular league season but the result proved to be academic as Cheltenham Town also won, meaning Wycombe will play The Robins in the two-legged play-off semi-final and have to travel to Whaddon Road for the second-leg. The match at Peterborough saw Jermaine Easter put Wycombe into the lead on 14 minutes when he curled in a shot from around 12 yards. Steve Williams kept the home side at bay with a number of good saves before substitute Mike Williamson sealed the victory with a headed goal five minutes from time. There was an injury scare on the hour mark for Wycombe when Easter was forced off after twisting his ankle close to the right bye-line. Elsewhere Steve Gregory was given his Football League debut late on in the game.
Peterborough 0 Wycombe 2 - Match report and reaction |
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UP FROM THE CONFERENCE
(Wednesday 3rd May 2006)
If Wanderers do not make it through the play-offs this season then they will play Accrington Stanley for the first time at any level. Stanley, who formed in 1968 out of the ashes of a defunct club of the same name, confirmed promotion a couple of weeks ago and will be joined by one other current Conference side in 'League Two' next season via a play-off system. The semi's will see Hereford United take on Morecambe and Grays Athletic play Halifax Town. The first legs will be this weekend with the return on Thursday 11th May. The final will take place on Saturday 20th May (kick-off 5.30pm) at a venue to be decided. |
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CROWDS UP AT ADAMS PARK
(Wednesday 3rd May 2006)
Wanderers finished the season with the 4th highest average home gate in 'League Two' for season 2005/6. The figure of 5,445 was also more than 500 up on the average for the 2004/5 campaign and the highest since the 5,982 average returned in season 2002/3. Carlisle United (7,218), Bristol Rovers (5,984) and Northampton Town (5,935) were the sides averaging more than Wycombe, with Notts County (5,269), Oxford United (5,133) and Grimsby Town (5,000) the other sides in the division to average 5,000 or more. Wanderers highest average League gate since joining the Football League in 1993 was 6,703 for the 2001/2 season. This season's figure represents gate receipts estimated at £1.2m with at least one home play-off leg to be accounted for. |
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CLUB SHOP PLANS PASSED
(Tuesday 2nd May 2006)
The proposed new Club Shop at Adams Park has been given the thumbs up by Wycombe District Council and building work is due to begin shortly after the end of the season. The new shop will replace the temporary structure currently in the car park and will be incorporated into the current office and reception area at the ground. Other work planned in the close season includes reworking the brick wall to the left of the main entrance and replacing this with a dedicated pedestrain entrance to assist in ground safety. The Adams Park pitch will also undergo renovation and reseeding at an estimated cost of £15,000 to £20,000. |
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COMMERCIAL APPOINTMENT
(Tuesday 2nd May 2006)
As reported on COTN in March, the Club are set to confirm an addition to their commercial staff with the appointment of a new face to head up the Sales & Marketing team. Karen Ellis will take on the role of Commercial Director and comes to the Club having held a similar position at Gloucester Rugby Club. |
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THE RACE FOR PROMOTION
(Monday 1st May 2006)
Northampton Town will join Carlisle United in 'League One' for the 2006/7 season after a 1-0 victory at Sixfields against Chester City secured automatic promotion. The other automatic place will be between Leyton Orient (78 points) and Grimsby Town (77 points). The O's travel to Oxford United next Saturday knowing that a win would take them up and in the same process send United down to the Conference. Grimsby will be looking for points from a home game with Northampton should the O's slip-up. Meanwhile, if Wycombe (68 points) are to finish 5th then they need to take at least a point from the trip to Peterborough United while hoping Cheltenham Town (69 points) drop sufficient points at Mansfield Town. Peterborough must beat Wycombe to have any chance of making the play-offs. If Wycombe lose at Peterborough they could be pushed down to 7th spot if Lincoln beat Rochdale. |
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L2 RELEGATION BATTLE
(Monday 1st May 2006)
Rushden & Diamonds were relegated back to the Conference following a 2-0 defeat at Boston United on the penultimate weekend of the regular season. The other relegation spot is still between any of seven teams with Oxford United (49 points) needing a victory from their final day home game with Leyton Orient to ensure their place in the Football League. If Oxford win then Stockport, Notts County, Barnet, Torquay and Macclesfield (all on 51 points) will need victories from their final games to ensure their safety. Notts County take on Bury (52 points) at Meadow Lane with the visitors knowing that defeat and a bizarre set of results elsewhere could send them down on goal difference. |
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VICTORY IN B&B FINAL
(Monday 1st May 2006)
Wanderers retained the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup after beating MK Dons 2-1 in the final on Bank Holiday Monday at Adams Park. Wycombe took the lead midway through the first half when Jermaine Easter lifted the ball over the 'keeper from around 25 yards on the right flank. However, the visitors equalised a minute before the interval after a clumsy challenge by Mike Williamson led to a penalty that was converted by Ben Harding. But it was Easter who got the winner on 68 minutes when converted a pass from Captain for the day Steven Gregory. From that point on Wanderers never looked in danger of conceding again and it was Gregory who picked up the Cup for Wycombe for the 26th time in the Club's history. Wycombe: Williams, Rice, Bunting, Christon, Williamson, Gregory, Burnell, Oakes (sub 89 Tucknott), Anya (sub 89 Boateng), Easter, Griffin (sub 89 Andy Savage) - subs not used: Giambrone, Mulvany. Att: approx 600 |
Wycombe Wanderers - Berks & Bucks Senior Cup winners 2006: Back, left to right: Joe Burnell, Mike Williamson, Charlie Griffin, Stefan Oakes, Steve Williams, Steven Gregory, Lewis Christon, Jermaine Easter, Pietro Giambrone, Josh Mulvany. Front: James Faulkner (standing), Dean Thornton, Sam Tucknott, Andy Savage, Lloyd Boateng, Robert Rice, Gary Bunting, Ikechi Anya
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