All the news stories from May 2017
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SLOUGH TOWN PRE-SEASON
(Friday 26th May 2017)
The Club have confirmed their fourth pre-season friendly before the 2017/18 season with news of a trip to old rivals Slough Town on Saturday 8th July 2017 (KO 1.30pm). The meeting will mark the 'official opening' of their Arbour Park stadium - first played on in August 2016. Meetings between Wanderers and The Rebels date back to 1894 through numerous Berks & Bucks, FA Cup and minor league encounters. The two sides first met at Isthmian League level in 1974 and the League meetings culminated in the early 1990's during three consecutive seasons in the Conference. The final Conference meeting between the two sides in April 1993 attracted an 'official' gate of 7,230 to Adams Park with many more watching from the banks around the stadium.
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RELEASED/RETAINED
(Tuesday 9th May 2017)
The Club confirmed their realised/retained list for the 2017/18 season, with Garry Thompson and Sam Wood the two players saying goodbye after Gareth Ainsworth 'opted not to extend their contacts'. Meanwhile, Anthony Stewart and Nick Freeman have triggered extensions for new deals now running until June 2018. The two other players out of contract; Aaron Pierre has been offered a new deal, while "talks are ongoing' with Marcus Bean. |
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WYCOMBE 1 CAMBRIDGE 0
(Saturday 6th May 2017)
A 1-0 victory against Cambridge United wasn't enough for Wanderers to sneak into the play-off places as Gareth Ainsworth's side finished in 9th spot in the 'League Two' table - a point outside the play-off zone. Scott Kashket scored the only goal of the game to take his goal tally for the season to 16 from just 18 starts and 29 appearances overall.
Wanderers missed out on the chance of promotion at the expense of Carlisle and Blackpool who booked their play-off places with final day victories. However, Carlisle came from 2-1 down to score two goals inside the final 20 minutes to snatch three vital points at Exeter City. If Carlisle had drawn with The Grecians, then Colchester United would have jumped into the final play-off place on goal-difference, with Wanderers in 8th.
Gareth Ainsworth made three changes to the Wanderers starting XI for the must-win game with United - Matt Bloomfield, Myles Weston and Kashket coming in for Luke O'Nien, Garry Thompson and Paul Hayes - the dropped trio all dropping to the bench. With both sides needing victory to have any chance of leaping into the play-offs, their was an inevitable fast pace to the game. With eyes and ears on other score-lines, it was Wycombe who had a gloriious chance to take the lead after only three minutes when Kashket managed to flick a through ball over the advancing 'keeper but then somehow managed to steer the ball wide of the open goal. It was head in hands time for the Wycombe fans amongst Adams Park highest gate of the season.
Five minutes later Aaron Pierre, possibly playing his final game for Wanderers, put the ball inches wide of his own post as the tension continued. Kashket forced a save from Norris in the visitors goal on 33 minutes and the same player went close again moments before the break as the half ended goalless and then time to catch-up on events elsewhere.
There was little to give hope from the half-time scorelines from other grounds but Wanderers continued to look the side more likely to score. O'Nien replaced Bloomfield in midfield on 62 minutes and immediately gave Wycombe added zip. The goal duly came on 65 minutes when Adebayo Akinfenwa's assist to the far post from Joe Jacobson's cross saw Kashket head home in front a delighted Valley End terrace.
Although score-lines continued to go against Wycombe's play-off chances in the other matches, United attempted to put a spoiler in the works with a late press on goal. Jamal Blackman pulled out another superb point blank stop from Ben Williamson on 89 minutes.
Then in the fourth minute if stoppage time, United and their fans behind the goal must have thought the equaliser had come when Leon Legge's close range effort looked every part a goal - but Michael Harriman's out-stretched leg protected Wanderers' lead and the Wycombe defender punched the air in delight to show his delight in keeping whatever slim chance there was of results elsewhere helping his team out.
In the end, Wycombe came up just short but will reflect on a season where they reached the 4th Fourth Round of the FA Cup for only the second time their history (and should have beaten Spurs at White Hart Lane), progressed to the semi-final of the Football League Trophy and enjoyed a mid-season winning running in the League that proved Wanderers' small squad has the potential to achieve results againt the top sides in the division and above. Attendance v Cambridge: 6,313 (1,352 away).
 Final Score: Wycombe 1 Cambridge United 0
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RACE FOR PROMOTION
(Friday 5th May 2017)
All the top three places in League Two are secured, the race for the four places in the play-offs continues until the final day of the season. Luton Town and Exeter City are guaranteed a play-off spot but seven other clubs are chasing the two other spots. Wanderers need to beat Cambridge United in the 5.30pm kick-off at Adams Park and then hope that result is better than at least three of the four other sides currently above them in the table. A tall ask but stranger things have happened.
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