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Saturday 12th October 1996 Football League Division Two BOURNEMOUTH 2 WYCOMBE 1 Neil Smillie's 'honeymoon' period as Wycombe Caretaker Manager ended at Bournemouth as the home side picked up their first points of the season at Dean Court. Smillie, who revealed after the game that he had not applied for the vacant post at Wycombe, could not have been happy with the first half defensive display from his side that saw 2 sloppy goals conceded. David Farrell's bizarre second half goal raised the hopes of the travelling Blue Army but McGavin, Williams and Co failed to deliver the killer blow up front as Bournemouth leapfrogged Wycombe in the table. Wycombe, who included Gary Patterson returning from injury in place of Lawrence, dominated the opening minutes but it was the home side that got the breakthrough - a left wing cross by John Bailey after 6 minutes being headed back across the goal by Steve Fletcher where Matt HOLLAND cleverly overhead kicked the ball past Parkin. Wycombe responded via two free-kicks from Mickey Bell - the first from the left after a foul on Farrell after 20 minutes which was headed goalwards by Terry Evans before being cleared. Then on 28 minutes Bell sent in another dead-ball from the opposite side that whistled over the bar. Wycombe were then hit with a sucker punch as The Cherries broke from the resultant goal-kick - Wycombe losing out in midfield and Mark WATSON waltzed into the area, rounded Parkin and thumped the ball into the empty net as Evans and Bell scrambled back in vain. John Williams, hero of last season's game at Dean Court, had a chance the reduce the deficit on 37 minutes when he raced into the area from the right but his shot was blocked for a corner. Half-Time Cherries 2 Wycombe 0 Wycombe's chances of salvaging something from the game were revived 4 minutes into the 2nd half following a fluke goal. David Carroll sent in a miss-hit daisy cutter shot from the edge of the box that was thumped clear by defender Neil Young. The ball hit the outstretched magic red boots of David FARRELL and rebounded into the net, much to the forward's joy. A boosted Wycombe side then pressed for an equaliser with Gary Patterson moving into a more attacking role. However, it was Patterson who brought the jeers from the home fans when he made a strong challenge on John Bailey in the Bournemouth box following a cross from the left after 73 minutes. Bailey was left pole-axed and was stretched off after several minutes treatment. Despite the protests from the home side the referee saw no infringement in what appeared to be a 50/50 challenge. With play restarted Steve Brown had a lame claim for a penalty turned down after he tumbled in the box but moments later Carroll sent over a right wing cross that McGavin headed just over from 8 yards. Wycombe's best chance to equalise came shortly afterwards when Mickey Bell continued his good work on the left - crossing in for Williams who laid the ball back to Brown who smashed the effort against the post from 12 yards. Wycombe continued to pressure well into injury time - Bell taking a quick throw on the left that was whipped across by Farrell where Paul McCarthy's stooping header forced a goal line save by Andy Marshall in the home goal. Even deeper into injury time Patterson confirmed his unpopularity with the home contingent when an incident in the Wycombe area resulted in the obligatory 'handbags at 10 yards' scene. Thankfully referee Alan Wiley had the common sense (can this be right?) to resist any bookings and his whistle moments later brought a relieved cheer from the home terraces. WYCOMBE TEAM: Parkin, Cousins, Bell, McCarthy, Evans, Patterson, Carroll, Williams, Brown, McGavin, Farrell. subs not used:Skiverton, Crossley & Clarke Att:3,984 |
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Saturday 5th October 1996 Football League Division Two WYCOMBE 1 NOTTS COUNTY 0 Wycombe earnt their second successive victory under Neil Smillie thanks to a 8th minute header from Steve McGavin. McGavin's third goal in two games was enough to see off fellow strugglers Notts County and move Wycombe away from the foot of the table and bring more smiles to the rejuvenated home fans at Adams Park. Wycombe started the game with the same line-up that finished the 4-2 victory over Rotherham in midweek and it was Steve McGavin who was again in the thick of the action. As early as the 6th minute Matt Lawrence fed the ball to McGavin, as he advanced into the right hand edge of the box, but he screwed his shot wide. Two minutes later, however, Wycombe were ahead as Jason Cousins curled in a deep free-kick from the right, Terry Evans headed the ball back across the face of the goal and McGAVIN was there from close range to head the ball down and into the net. A Dave Carroll corner from the right after 17 minutes caused further problems for County as Evans again returned the ball but John Williams' snap shot flew over the bar from close range. A disappointing County side came close on 28 minutes when Parkin was forced to save a close range header but their best chance of the half came on 40 minutes when Tim Wilks fed the ball right to Chris Wilder who crossed the ball, only for Ian Richardson to sky the effort high into the industrial estate behind the Hillbottom Road end. The half ended with Terry Evans and County's Graeme Hogg both picking up bookings from referee Mr Wilkes. Half-Time Wycombe 1 County 0 The second half was six minutes old when David Farrell's cross from the left was met by Williams who pulled his shot across the face of the goal before the chance was cleared. A minute later Lawrence spotted Darren Ward off his line but the County 'keeper recovered. Two more bookings were dished out by Mr Wilkes on 60 minutes following a fracas in the centre circle - Matt Lawrence and Shaun Derry being added to the book - although the referee confused the crowd by restarting play with a drop-ball. County continued to press for an equaliser and on 65 minutes Vince Arkins volleyed from 12 yards but Parkin saved to his left. Dave Carroll picked up a rare booking on 77 minutes for a fairly innocuous challenge and 5 minutes later the pen was out again as Shaun Murphy was penalised for a hefty challenge on McGavin. Wycombe meanwhile held firm and had a chance to wrap the game up on 84 minutes when Williams played the ball to Lawrence from the left, who set-up Carroll but his effort went over the bar. Then in the dying moments Carroll pushed the ball to McGavin who beat the oncoming defender and brought a good save from Ward with a low shot to the left. Wycombe finished the game in command and it was the County fans who were left to call for the head of their Manager at the end of an eventful 8 days for Wycombe players and their fans. WYCOMBE TEAM: Parkin, Cousins, Bell, McCarthy, Evans, Lawrence, Carroll, Williams, Desouza (sub 61 Brown), McGavin, Farrell. subs not used:Crossley & Clarke Att:4,506 |
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