IT'S been tough on the road for Wycombe Wanderers this season - just a Checkatrade Trophy win at Northampton to show for their efforts. But goals from Paris Cowan-Hall and Adebayo Akinfenwa ensured the Chairboys went into the hat for second round of the FA Cup.

Former Pompey trainee, Cowan-Hall had silenced Fratton Park with a poacher's goal after 26 minutes.

And though Pompey equalised soon after the re-start from Gareth Evans, it was Adebayo seven minutes from time who sealed the win with a clever looping header.

The road to Wembley began at a cold Fratton Park, with boss Gareth Ainsworth making just two changes from the side which started in the 2-2 draw at Doncaster Rovers a week ago.

Anthony Stewart returned to the centre of defence to line up alongside Aaron Pierre, while Adebayo Akinfenwa was given a start, replacing Danny Rowe.

The opening exchanges were pretty frenetic, with both teams trying to pass the ball as they attempted to probe each other's defences. Pompey were a little bit more direct in their approach, trying to work the ball down the flanks.

Pompey had three corners in the first ten minutes which amounted to nothing, while at the other end Adebayo Akinfenwa was proving a handful, winning everything in the air. But neither side was able to carve out a chance.

Then in the 14th minute, the lively Milan Lalkovic stormed forward after a missed pass by Akenfenwa. The Slovak set free Noel Hunt with a path on goal, but Wycombe keeper Jamal Blackman was out quickly on the edge of his area to smother the ball at the feet of the Republic of Ireland forward.

Moments later, Wycombe came so close to taking the lead when, out of nothing, Matt Bloomfield let fly left-footed from the edge of the area. His low drive beat the dive of goalkeeper David Forde, but the ball hit the post and was cleared.

Suddenly, the Chairboys' tails were up. Aftter 19 minutes, a neat pass inside by Matt Bloomfield set up Paris Cowan-Hall as he ghosted into the penalty area. He shot from a narrow angle on the corner of the six yard box and Forde's left boot diverted the ball for a corner which was destined for the corner of the net.

Then, from Wycombe's next attacking move, Dominic Gape, the Southampton loanee, found space outside the box and his right foot shot hammered behind for a goalkick.

Wycombe were beginning to dominate possession, harrying when Pompey had the ball, and then passing neatly to find players in space. In fairness, both teams were trying to play neat passing football, providing an entertaining game.

Deservedly, Wycombe a 26th minute lead after Joe Jacobson was fouled by Christian Burgess midway into the Pompey half.

Michael Harriman's left wing free-kick was flapped at by goalkeeper Forde under pressure from Akenfenwa and bounced free for Cowan-Hall to pounce on the rebound with his head from close range.

It was a twist of irony since it was Pompey who gave a 17-year-old Cowan-Hall his break in professional football, joining the south coast club in 2007 from Rushden & Diamonds, progressing through the Academy.

Despite the Fratton faithful providing a cacophony of noise, it was all Wycombe. Paul Hayes and Luke O'Nien shot wide from distance - clearly the message from the manager was to test the Pompey keeper as often as possible, as the visitors were playing some enterprising football.

Akinfenwa fired high and wide with his left foot in first half injury time, and then with the last action of the first half, the veteran striker rose high at the far post from Joe Jacobson's right wing corner, but directed his downward header wide and could only put his head in his hands.

However, Wycombe were very good value for their first half lead - the question was, could they hang onto it?

The lead lasted just 97 seconds when Pompey left-back Enda Stevens put in a teasing left-wing cross and Gareth Evans volleyed home at the near post.

It was a poor goal to concede, especially as Wycombe had defended so well in the first half forcing the Blues' striker to live off scraps.

Pompey were now in the ascendancy playing at a much quicker tempo abd backed by their drum-beating, bell-ringing vociferous home support.

Another probing ball inside allowed Roberts a route on goal after 50 minutes, but Blackman was again off his line quickly to clear with his feet from the edge of the Wycombe penalty area.

The game was on a knife-edge with Wycombe looking jittery at the back. A mix-up between Aaron Pierre and goalkeeper Blackman almost let in the lively Hunt, but central defensive partner Stewart cleaned up the danger on the hour mark.

Pompey made a double substitution in the 63rd minute bringing on Kyle Bennett and Carl Baker for Adam Buxton and Lalkovic.

No sooner were both players on the pitch than Jacobson fired in a free-kick into the Pompey penalty area where Akenfenwa drilled one shot which struck a defender and the Wycombe striker then met the rebound with a half-hit shot which was saved by Forde.

Back came Pompey and Stewart twice cleared his lines inside the penalty area from Gareth Evans and Gary Roberts' crosses and as the hosts sought a second goal. When the ball did break free, Blackman was quick to gather the loose ball under pressure from Hunt. It was a fast-moving game with both teams intent on attack as Luke O'Nien was booked for holding.

After 70 minutes, Blackman needed to be at his agile best, spectacularly turning away Baker's ripping long range shot which was arrowing towards the top corner.

A minute later, Wycombe goalscorer Cowan-Hall was substituted for Myles Weston, after 74 minutes Pompey brought on Conor Chaplin for Hunt and then on 76 minutes Garry Thompson came on for Paul Hayes.

Wycombe were weathering a blue-shirted storm, but then twice in a minute the visitors could have stolen a lead. First Weston jinked past a couple of Pompey players, his shot from range after 79 minutes took a wicked deflecton off Rose, but Forde managed to block the shot with his left foot despite going the wrong way.

Then Akinfenwa latched onto a loose ball and lobbed the goalkeeper from the edge of the area which Forde palmed away for a corner.

Seven minutes from time, and Wycombe made their pressure pay with a decisive second goal.

It was that man Akenfenwa who found space in the area from Gape's cross, he got in front of defender Christian Burgess with a looping header which found the back of the net, silencing the home crowd behind the goal at the Fratton End.

Akinfenwa was substituted two minutes from time to a standing ovation from both Wycombe and Pompey fans, making way for Marcus Bean to shore up the midfield in the closing minutes.

Pompey could have sealed an equaliser in the sixth minute of injury time. With all 11 men in the penalty area for a corner, including goalkeeper Forde, Roberts' right-wing cross was met by a diving header from Stevens and it flashed wide.

Portsmouth: Forde, Stevens, Rose, Clarke, Burgess, Lalkovic (sub: Bennett, 63), Roberts, Hunt (sub: Chaplin, 74), Buxton (sub: Baker, 63), Evans, Close. Subs: O'Brien, Davies, Smith, Naismith.

Wycombe Wanderers: Blackman, Jacobson, Stewart, Pierre, Hayes (sub: Thompson, 76), Bloomfield, Cowan-Hall (sub: Weston, 71), Harriman, O'Nien, Akinfenwa (sub: Bean, 88), Gape. Subs: Brown, Jombati, Thompson, De Havilland, Kashket.

Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey)

Attendance: 8,530 (visitors 510)