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Wanderers fell further behind the play-off zone after a 1-1 draw at fellow promotion hopefuls Rochdale on Easter Monday. Once again Wycombe had to come from behind having conceded a dubious 16th minute penalty given for a combination of handball against Danny Senda and a push by Mike Williamson on Gary Jones. Jones converted the spot-kick but Wycombe made their typical response and went close to equalising on three occasions before the break, eventually drawing level two minutes into the second-half when a through ball from Clint Easton found Nathan Tyson to the left of goal who then ran on before drilling an effort past Matthew Gilks in The Dale goal. With the points there for the taking, it was Wycombe who went closest to snatching all three on 71 minutes when Williamson's header was brilliantly saved by Gilks but it was not to be and it looks a tall order now for Wanderers to make up ground on the top seven.The game at Spotland saw John Gorman make three changes to starting line-up that had lost at home to Northampton on Good Friday - at the back Mike Williamson replaced Stuart Nethercott while Gus Uhlenbeek and Ian Stonebridge were dropped from midfield with Jonny Dixon and Steve Claridge coming in to what was an initial front three. The penalty in 16th minute came after Wanderers failed to clear a Rochdale attack. Grant Holt picked up possession and sent in a cross from the right that struck the hand of Danny Senda, although the referee later revealed the penalty was ultimately given for a push by Williamson. Whatever way it looked harsh but Jones was grateful to convert the spot-kick past Frank Talia. Wycombe had three good chances to equalise before the break and they all came from headers. First on 23 minutes Claridge sent in a ball to the far side of the box that Senda headed back across the face of the goal and inches away from the touch of Tyson. Johnson saw a header well saved on 34 minutes following a corner from the right by Rob Lee. Then a minute before the break a Claridge header flew a fraction wide after Senda's delivery. Half-time Rochdale 1 Wycombe 0 Wycombe came out all fired-up at the start of the second-half and were level within two minutes when a long ball from Clint Easton found Tyson on the left channel and Wanderers' top scorer let the ball bounce once before sending a left foot effort past Gilks for his 19th strike of the season. Dixon went close to giving Wycombe the lead a minute later when he followed up a loose ball in the penalty area but he shot straight in the arms of Gilks. Dixon was replaced shortly afterwards as Wanderers converted to a more conventional formation. Wycombe looked the most likely winners at this stage, although a misplaced pass by Tyson pass gave the home side an opening that ended with a shot being deflected wide for corner. But on 68 minutes Claridge had a glorious chance after being sent through by Matt Bloomfield but he shot was pushed away Gilks. A minute later at the end Ernie Cooksey missed the target after a centre into the Wycombe penalty area. Williamson looked to have scored on 71 minutes with a header but Gilks pulled off another terrific stop to deflect the ball onto the post. Wanderers then had a big claim for a penalty waved away after Bloomfield looked to have been bundled off the ball by Tony Gallimore. Tyson had a 20 yard effort beaten away by Gilks with five minutes remaining. Then in the dying moments Uhlenbeek's cross was missed by Claridge and Tyson as Wanderers missed the opportunity to snatch all three points. Final Score - Rochdale 1 Wycombe 1 John Gorman said he was proud of the way his team played when he spoke to BBC Three Counties Radio after the game. The Wycombe boss added "We were very unfortunate to get a penalty against us. Nobody will convince me that was a penalty, yet it was given. He (the referee) said there was a pushing incident off the ball but none of their players appealled. It was annoying and frustrating because at one-nil down we were playing so well but we then came back and played even better." Despite the draw Gorman was no mood to give up the chase for a spot in the play-offs, adding "We are going to go now and play every game like we did today go full out for it and give it our best shot." Meanwhile, Rochdale Manager Steve Parkin commented in the press conference "We huffed and puffed but never played as well as we can. We never passed the ball well enough in the first half and kept giving possesion away to a team that can keep the ball very well." He added "But we kept battling and I sure John (Gorman) believes as we do, that chances for both sides went begging. Again I cannot fault the players for their effort, they gave it all and it's difficult to keep putting yourself on the line."
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