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Wycombe Wanderers 1
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Stockport County 4 |
Saturday 5th April 2003
Football League Division Two |
Wanderers crashed to a 4-1 defeat to Stockport County at Adams Park and this after taking the lead through Michael Simpson in the 65th minute. It looked like Simo's strike from the edge of the box after a poor punch by the County 'keeper was going to be enough to win the game. However, a combination of shocking defending and clinical finishing saw County equalise on 79 minutes through former Wanderers transfer target Luke Beckett and then score three times in the final five minutes through Gordon Greer and a brace from Aaron Wilbraham, both players having come on as substitutes.
The result is another set-back for Lawrie Sanchez following the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Chesterfield. Before the game the Wycombe boss said he wanted to prove that the Chesterfield game was "just a blip" and as expected made changes to the side. With Steve Brown serving a one match ban for his red card versus Barnsley, Michael Simpson went straight back into the midfield and was Wycombe's Man of the Match by a mile. There were three other changes. Chris Vinnicombe returned at left back in place of Keith Ryan, Martyn Lee was preferred in midfield to Darren Currie and Gavin Holligan was given a start ahead of Jonny Dixon. It proved to be a combination that never gelled and there was bad news for Vinnicombe on 54 minutes when he struggled off with a head injury and was replaced by Dixon. It was Dixon who nearly made it 2-0 on 73 minutes after a brilliant combination between Simpson and McSporran down the right. Dixon couldn't quite get the vital touch and after Keith Ryan had replaced McSporran the visitors took advantage of the lack of pace in the Wycombe defence to take all three points and inflict another reality check for those in charge.
 Wanderers never seemed up for this game against a side who were 20th placed in Division Two prior to kick-off. It took Wycombe until four minutes before the end of the first half to force their first corner and visiting 'keeper Tidman did not have one serious save to make in a first half played a testimonial type pace.
But the danger signs were always there at the other end. Stockport forced two corners in quick succession on 19 minutes that came to nothing but four minutes later Beckett went close with a backwards header following a long and direct throw-in from the right wing. Then on the stroke of half-time Rickie Lambert crashed a shot against the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area after another spell of County pressure.
Half-time 0-0
The visitors continued to look threatening after the break with Andy Welsh firing over at the far post following a cross from the right. Wanderers then made their first substitution of the game and even that had a hint of farce about it. Dixon was set to replace McSporran on 54 minutes but as Jocky made his way to the dug out there were calls that Vinnicombe had gone down after taking a blow to the head. Back comes McSporran to take over in a right wing back role while Dixon joined Holligan up front and Senda switched to the left of defence. Ironically it led to Wycombe's best spell of the game.
 Wycombe actually had the ball in the net on 61 minutes through the head of Mark Rogers but a flag had been raised well beforehand for offside. However, four minutes later a poor punch from Tidman under pressure of a challenge from Holligan saw Simpson volley the ball into the net with a great left footed strike from the right corner of the penalty area.
Dixon was close to making it 2-0 on 73 minutes before Ryan replaced McSporran and things quickly went pear-shaped. On 78 minutes Andy Thomson was caught out by Wilbraham and Beckett finished from close range. Frank Talia made a good save from Beckett five minutes later by which point most people where expecting a draw. However, on 85 minutes Wycombe were caught out again when a corner from the right was smashed home at the far post by Greer who was making his County debut following a loan move from Blackburn Rovers.
Willbraham scored twice for County in the final couple of minutes as the Wanderers defence completely fell apart. The first on 88 minutes took a wicked deflection past Talia but his second and County's fourth saw Willbraham out pace Rogers down the right before he angled his shot past Talia and leave Wycombe followers shellshocked.
Final Score Wycombe 1 Stockport 4
Wycombe: Talia, Senda, Thomson, Rogers, Johnson, Vinnicombe (sub Dixon 54), Bulman, Simpson, Lee (sub 86 Currie), McSporran (sub 77 Ryan), Holligan - subs not used: Simpemba, Cook
Yellow Cards: none |
Stockport: Tidman, Goodwin, Challinor, Clare, Peter Clark, Gibb, Lescott, Lambert (sub 68 Hardiker), Welsh (sub 78 Greer), Beckett, Daly (sub 68 Wilbraham) - subs not used Jones, Tonkin
Yellow Card: none |
| Referee: Andy Penn (West Midlands) |
Attendance: 5,632 (away end 291) |
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