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Paul McCarthy goal 17 minutes from the end of normal time kept The Wanderers
in the FA Cup just when it looked like First Division Grimsby would sneak
through into the Fourth Round.David Nielsen had headed the visitors into the lead three minutes before the break after quiet first-half. However, with Andy Baird back in the Wycombe side for the first time in nearly three months, The Wanderers dominated the second period and thoroughly deserved their equaliser. Baird's return was a major boost for Wycombe and he was joined up front by Andy Rammell, also returning after illness had kept him out of the game at Northampton. In front of what looked the biggest gate of the season at Adams Park, The Wanderers began well. Dannie Bulman fired a 20 yard effort wide in the 2nd minute after Rammell's knock down while Steve Brown saw a similar ranged shot fail to hit the target in the 20th minute. Chances were limited for both sides but Bulman's through ball to Baird in the 29th minute nearly created the vital opening. However, 'Bairdy' found himself shut out just before he could get his shot in. The visitors looked dangerous on the attack but in the main the threat of the dangermen David Nielsen and Kevin Donovan were stifled by the Wycombe defence. The Mariners first serious effort at goal came in the 41st minute when the ball broke kindly to defender Tony Gaillimore just left of goal but the former Stoke and Carlisle player pulled his shot wide of the far post. A minute later Mark Rogers made an important header to clear the ball for a corner on the Grimsby left but sloppy marking from the resulting deadball cost Wycombe a goal. Stuart Campbell and Menno Willems played a quick one-two from the corner and Nielsen was lurking at the near post to glance the ball past Martin Taylor. Half-time Wycombe 0 Grimsby 1 To go in 1-0 down at the break was a blow for Wycombe but the second period saw almost total domination by The Wanderers. Matt Brady was introduced for Mo Harkin and within four minutes of the restart it was Brady who pushed the ball left to Baird who then got free from his marker but could only drive the ball straight into the chest of Mariners 'keeper Danny Coyne. Bulman saw a dipping shot deflected over for Wycombe's first corner of the game on 53 minutes and just after the hour mark Brown volleyed over after Jason Cousins free-kick had been headed clear. This was Wycombe's best spell of the game but it looked like the goal would never come. It was Lawrie Sanchez's gamble to switch to a back three by taking off Mark Rogers and throwing on Danny Senda that proved to be the lifeline for Wycombe. Even before Senda had touched the ball, Wycombe were level. Taylor cleared long and when Andy Rammell's complete miss-kick in front of goal fell to Brady just to the left of centre, the Wycombe fans held their breath as Brady played a clever ball into the path of McCarthy who smashed the ball into the top corner of the net from 12 yards. From that point on there was only going to be one winner and only a fantastic save by Coyne prevented Baird from capping a dream comeback. The Grimsby 'keeper somehow managed to claw away Baird's header after Rammell had knocked back Chris Vinnicombe's cross from the left. Baird was replaced shortly afterwards suffering from cramp but Wycombe fans will know if he can stay fit then he could be a key figure in the second-half of the season. Steve Livingstone had Grimsby's solitary second-half effort in the 84th minute when he headed wide as Taylor spent most of the half as a spectator in front of The Valley End. It was Bulman who concluded the afternoon's action in the second minute of stoppage time when his 30 yard effort almost embarrassed Coyne and prevented the trip to Blundell Park for the replay. Full-time Wycombe 1 Grimsby 1
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