Wycombe Wanderers suffered a dent to the playoff hopes as they lost 1-0 to Notts County at a sun-kissed Adams Park.

Shola Ameobi scored the only goal of the game on 27 minutes when Jon Stead burst into the box and squared it for the former Newcastle striker to tap home via the post.

Wanderers had a couple of excellent chances to level but on the whole, they were nullified by their organised opponents.

A big talking point in the game was when the lively Myles Weston seemed to be tripped in the area by Matt Tootle but referee Ross Joyce waved away the vociferous protests.

The visitors had the first opportunity when Stead was denied brilliantly by Jamal Blackman on four minutes after a slick breakaway by the visitors.

Although the game was being played in brilliant sunshine, the conditions were blustery and Wycombe were struggling to get to grips with it early on.

Wanderers had their first chance on nine minutes when Myles Weston burst into the area and his fierce strike was parried away by Adam Collin.

Three minutes later, Weston put in a delightful cross which County failed to clear. The ball fell to Luke O’Nien eight yards out but he blazed over.

Kevin Nolan’s side were trying to use the wind to their advantage and were testing Blackman with a series of high balls, which the on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper claimed well.

The home side had the game’s next chance on 24 minutes when Alex Jakubiak did superbly to get away down the right and Richard Duffy just cleared before O’Nien could get to it.

However, the Magpies took the lead thanks to Ameobi’s second goal in four games.

Adebayo Akinfenwa had an opportunity to equalise on the half-hour mark but he couldn’t quite divert Sam Saunders’ corner into the net.

O’Nien had another sighter of goal on 56 minutes but his header flashed wide from Saunders’ excellent corner.

On the hour mark, Wycombe had a massive shout for a penalty turned down with the Blues faithful screaming for the spot-kick to be awarded.

The game was becoming scrappy with neither side able to get a real foothold in terms of possession or chances.

On 72 minutes, Weston almost got in the end of Michael Harriman’s dangerous cross but Tootle cleared it away for a corner.

County had an opportunity to extend their lead on 76 minutes when the excellent Ameobi saw his cross tipped away by Blackman.

Akinfenwa had been marshalled well by the County defence for the majority of the game but he had a sniff for an equaliser when the ball came into him in the area but his header dropped a couple of yards wide.

Substitute Nick Freeman then had a golden chance to nick a goal with nine minutes remaining but his effort was deflected just wide with Collin beaten.

County captain Michael O’Connor almost made the game safe on 85 minutes when his shot from the edge of the box went inches off target.

Will De Havilland nearly scored with an acrobatic effort a minute later but he hit it straight into Collin’s grateful hands.

Joe Jacobson was so close to giving Wycombe a vital point in injury time when his terrific shaved the post but the Chairboys suffered their first loss in six games, which sees them now sit four points off the playoffs with seven games remaining.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Blackman, Harriman, Muller, De Havilland, Jacobson, Gape (sub: Hayes, 68), O’Nien, Saunders, Jakubiak (sub: Thompson, 58), Weston (sub: Freeman, 79), Akinfenwa. Subs: Richardson, Jombati, Bloomfield, Wood.

NOTTS COUNTY: Collin, Tootle, Dickinson, Hollis, Duffy, O’Connor, Milsom, Grant, Hewitt, Stead, Ameobi (sub: Smith, 90). Subs: Searson, Clackstone, Howes, A Campbell, T Campbell, Forte.

REFEREE: Ross Joyce

ATTENDANCE: 4,362