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 Wycombe
fielded a starting line-up with seven changes to the side that achieved the
famous victory at Selhurst Park but still could have got something from the
trip to London Road. Wanderers were two goals up after 14 minutes but just
20 minutes later found themselves 3-2 down, as Posh stormed back. Wycombe
could have salvaged a point in the second-half when a foul on Stewart
Castledine earned The Wanderers a penalty. But after seeing eight penalties
converted at Selhurst Park it was Michael Simpson who saw his weakly hit
spot kick saved without too much effort by Posh 'keeper Stuart Taylor.Martyn Lee had fired Wycombe into the lead against the run of play on 13 minutes with a sweetly hit volley from 25 yards. It was Lee's first senior goal for Wycombe and came after Alan Beeton's free-kick had been headed on by Keith Ryan before falling to the ex-Wanderers Youth Teamer. The lead was doubled just sixty seconds later after Sam Parkin had held up play in midfield before laying the ball off for Ryan whose low shot, from slightly further out that Lee, caught out Stuart Taylor in the home goal. The Posh revival started a minute later when Leon McKenzie beat off a challenge from John Nutter and Paul McCarthy before slipping the loose ball past Martin Taylor from 12 yards. Six minutes later the scores were level as McKenzie scored again - this time heading past Taylor after Dean Hooper's high cross from the right bounced around in the Wycombe penalry area . The turnaround was complete in the 34th minute after another dangerous ball in from the Peterborough right by Hooper was scuffed by Ryan and Jason Lee snapped at the chance to score from eight yards. Despite the set-back it couldn't upset the happy band of travelling fans and many thought that the scores had been levelled on the stroke of half-time when Martyn Lee's free-kick from 25 yards whistled inches past the left-hand upright. Half-time Peterborough 3 Wycombe 2  Wycombe's uncertainty at the back was understandable with so many regulars
missing. Jason Cousins sat out the game suspended, while Jamie Bates and
Dannie Bulman were on the bench to reduce the risk of picking up a fifth
yellow card that would mean them missing the FA Cup game at Leicester.
Tuesday's excesses got the better of Keith Ryan and he was replaced by Jamie
Bates at half-time. Steve
Brown was rested (also one yellow card away from a suspension), while Chris
Vinnicombe cried off with flu. 'Vinni's absence meant a Football League
debut for
19 year old
John Nutter. The former Blackburn trainee had a competent
game at left-back while
fellow 19 year old
Ben Townsend, on the opposite flank, was on the
losing side for the first time for the
Wanderers' First Team.The game could have also marked the last appearance in a Wycombe shirt for Sam Parkin and Niall Thompson. Both players have come to an end of their temporary spells with Wycombe and Thompson's problems were compounded when he was forced off injured in the 50th minute. The Canadian's problems gave Stewart Castledine the chance for one of his better games since rejoining Wycombe in the summer. It was foul by Simon Rea on Castledine after more good work from Parkin that gifted Wycombe a 65th minute penalty. With Steve Brown sat in the stands, it was left for second-choice penalty taker Michael Simpson to take responsibility but he side-footed without conviction to the 'keepers left and the effort was saved. The home side could have sealed matters two minutes later when Francis Green slashed an effort wide from yet another right wing ball from Hooper. Andy Clarke also forced a spectacular tip over by Martin Taylor on 79 minutes before Wycombe put in a late surge. On 80 minutes Castledine slipped the ball across the face of the goal from the left after a rare slip by Hooper but there was nobody to connect. With seven minute left on the clock Martyn Lee saw a 20 yard strike go close after the ball broke out of the Posh penalty area following efforts from Parkin and Castledine. A minute later Simpson saw a goal bound effort tipped over after substitute Matt Brady and Martyn Lee had combined on the left. Wycombe's never say die attitude continued to the end by despite Jamie Bates playing a forward role the goal wouldn't come to give Wycombe a point from their efforts. It's back down to 13th place after this defeat and the team selection alone was proof that the priority now lies firmly with the FA Cup ventures - after the entertainment at Selhurst Park, there will be few who will argue with that philosophy. Final Score Peterborough 3 Wycombe 2
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