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Oldham Athletic 2 |
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Wycombe Wanderers 3 |
Saturday 27th March 2004
Football League Division Two |
The sheer joy and relief at the end of this match was plain to see as Wanderers players, staff and followers celebrated Wycombe's first away League victory for more than 12 months. It may not be enough to beat the drop but having seen two clinical finishes from Nathan Tyson and Craig Faulconbridge's 88th minute close range strike secure the points, it was evident that this team will not give up without a fight.
Wanderers went into the game without Jermaine McSporran as they new era at the Club continued to unfold. 'Jocky' signed for First Division Walsall on transfer deadline day and it seemed that Darren Currie would also be heading for pastures new on the same day. Currie's move elsewhere (included a rumoured move to Oldham) broke down and he was included in an unchanged line-up for the Wanderers. Danny Bulman came for McSporran on the bench.
After an indecisive opening from the Wanderers it was Paul Murray who put the home side ahead in the 18th minute when he was left unmarked on the right side of the penalty area. However, Wanderers were level five minutes later when Roger Johnson headed forward from the half-way line to find Faulconbridge who pushed the ball forward for Tyson to turn and shot into the opposite corner of the net from the left side of the penalty area.
A good spell from the Wanderers followed with Currie crossing from the left on 40 minutes only for Tyson to see his angled shot tipped over by Les Pogliacomi in the Latics goal. But three minutes before the interval Tyson scored a candidate for 'goal of the season' when he battled back to win possession in his own half before weaving out to the right and then flighting the ball over Pogliacomi. However, thoughts at that time of an away win were put on ice when Oldham were allowed too much space down their right and when the ball was centred, Murray laid it back for John Eyre to flick past Steve Williams.
Half-time 2-2
Wanderers responded again at the start of the second half with Currie curling a 20 yard effort too close to the 'keeper on 47 minutes, while two minutes later Tyson should have bagged his hat-trick when he blasted over from six yards after Faulconbridge had knocked the ball down to the right side of the six yard box.
 Williams then went on to keep Wycombe in the game as Oldham went on to have a decent spell of pressure. The Wanderers' keeper picked out Scott Vernon's effort on 54 minutes and on 70 minutes he pushed away Will Haining's shot from the left side of the penalty area from Michael Clegg's cross.
Wanderers had a claim for a penalty waved away on 82 minutes following a blatant handball following a powerful cross in from the right by Danny Senda. However, it was left to Senda to pick up possession down the right in the 88th minute after Matt Bloomfield had given the ball away. Senda raced into the penalty area and fired across the face of the goal for Faulconbridge to slot home. Wanderers players and fans had 'every right to go mad'.
Final Score - Oldham 2 Wycombe 3
Tony Adams was delighted with the victory, saying to BBC Three Counties Radio "I'm really pleased for the boys. They have been working so hard in recent weeks and getting lots of draws. But they have been giving me lots and lots of effort and for that reason alone I am delighted we have finally got the win." However, the Wycombe boss wasn't getting carried away with the result, adding "The moment you are satisfied, you are gone. You have got to strive on. One result is just a start. It is all about performances. We have got a result today that we could have got in the last nine draws to be honest."
Wycombe: Williams, Rogers, Vinnicombe, Nethercott, Johnson, Senda, Currie, Bloomfield, Simpson, Faulconbridge, Tyson - subs not used Philo, Simpemba, Brown, Bulman, Dixon
Bookings: Vinnicombe (foul 29), Bloomfield (foul 80)
Scorers: Tyson (23, 42), Faulconbridge (88) |
Oldham: Pogliacomi, Clegg, Griffin, Haining, Holden, Darren Sheridan (sub HT Bonner), Cooksey, Eyre, Murray, Vernon (sub 58 Johnson), Wilkinson (sub 75 Crowe) - subs not used: Westwood, Owen
Bookings: Sheridan (foul 34)
Scorers: Murray (18), Eyre (44) |
| Referee: Kevin Wright |
Attendance: 5,758 (128 away end) |
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