BLUES boss Gareth Ainsworth admitted he would have been asking serious questions of the decision to allow Stevenage’s opening goal against his side had Wanderers not gone on to win.

Confusion reigned around the Lamex Stadium as it took several minutes for confirmation Darius Charles had given the hosts the lead despite a heavy challenge on Wanderers keeper Matt Ingram.

The Blues stopper needed an extended period of treatment after a booming tackle from Charles won a 50/50 challenge against Ingram, and with the former John Hampden Grammar School pupil collapsed in agony clutching his ankle the Boro striker reacted to poke the ball home.

At one point goalkeeping coach Barry Richardson – named among the Wanderers substitutes at the age of 45 – was preparing to come on, giving some credence to Blues’ claims the goal should have been disallowed for a foul on the stricken Ingram.

Ainsworth admitted he would have made more of it had the goal turned out to be the game’s pivotal moment.

He said: “I wasn’t sure myself. It seemed to be a nasty collision. Whether Matty got the ball first and he’s been crashed by forward, or whether the forward’s put in a legitimate challenge, I don’t know.

“I probably would have been questioning it more if that had been the only goal of the game, which is obvious. Winning 3-1 takes the edge off that, but it’s still something we should look at.”

Ainsworth added: “I thought the ref had a good game today. He didn’t crumble under a lot of pressure, which refs do here.”

Wanderers midfielder Stuart Lewis, a former Stevenage player, had a different view however: “Very controversial. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t.

“It was a very, very strong tackle from their centre forward. I’d probably say it was a foul, but I’m biased towards Wycombe. We bounced back from that and won the game – that’s the main thing.”