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 Who
else was there to get the winning goal against Northampton, other than Steve
Brown? 'Brownie' took advantage of a 50th minute foul on Steve Jones in the
Cobblers
penalty area to cooly slot home the spot kick to the left of visiting 'keeper
Keith Welch.Up until then it looked like neither side would break the deadlock even though Wycombe dominated possession for long periods. Fielding an unchanged line-up to the one that drew 0-0 at Stoke on the opening day, Wycombe controlled most of the first half without really troubling Welch. In the 11th minute a Michael Simpson delivered corner from the right was headed goalwards by Jamie Bates but was blocked and when the ball fell loose, 'Batesy' launched the ball into the fields behind the Valley End. The Cobblers midfielder David Savage limped off in the 12th minute with a knee problem forcing Cobblers boss Kevin Wilson to re-organise his 3-5-2 formation. Meanwhile Wycombe's 4-4-2 shape saw McSporran let loose on the left wing in an 18th minute move that started deep on the right side of Wycombe's half with a clever Simpson back-heel. McSporan blasted that shot high of the target but his bullet pace caused all sorts of problems for The Cobblers defence. The visitors first showed their worth two minutes later when prolific goalscorer Marco Gabbiandini scooped a shot well high of the target. Gabbiandini wasn't to get another look in as Wycombe's defence held firm. Chris Vinicombe tried an ambitious shot from the left side in the 26th minute that nearly embarrassed Welch at the far post. Five minutes later McSporran cut inside on the left before unleashing a right foot shot that Welch got down well to save. Cobblers' £150,000 summer signing Jamie Forrester would have been disappointed with a 35th minute chance that saw the euro hopper pull his shot wide with the goal at his mercy. Martin Taylor was briefly called into action in the final minute of the first-half when he had to race back to his far post to tip a 40 yard right wing free-kick from John Frain to safety. Half-time 0-0 The decisive moment in the game came in the 50th minute when Steve Jones forced his way into the left edge of The Cobblers penalty area. Defender Ian Hendon stuck out an arm and when Jones tumbled, referee Paul Alcock pointed to the spot and booked Hendon for good measure. The 1,000 plus visiting fans weren't amused but let's face it Alcock is an expert on being knocked over with such glances! Steve Brown remained calm to convert the spot kick, despite being told to re-spot the ball and from that point on there was only one winner. In the 58th minute Simpson nipped into the area on the right side but his flicked shot was cleared off the line at the last possible moment by Richard Hope. Then in the 65th minute, Mo Harkin, enjoying another start in midfield, threaded the ball left to McSporran, but 'Jocky' delayed too long allowing Hope to cut the chance out. Andy Baird replaced Harkin in the 74th minute and within a few minutes could have scored when he powered into the right side of the Northampton box only to see Welch save. The rebound then hit Baird and ended in the side netting. The visitors made a last ditch attempt for a point but Bates easily cleared an 89th minute free-kick from Steve Howard. Then on the stroke of 90 minutes Taylor punched clear a Frain free-kick after Brown had fouled John Hodge on the right-side. A deserved three points for Wycombe against a Northampton side that contained with ease by a well orgainised Wycombe side. Full time Wycombe 1 Northampton 0
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