WYCOMBE Wanderer’s play-off hopes remain on track despite a frustrating 3-3 draw against 10-man Cheltenham Town in a pulsating game.

In a game that ebbed and flowed all afternoon in the spring sunshine, and despite the Chairboys coming from 2-0 down, they did not have enough to edge past the struggling side from Gloucestershire.

With other results going for them, Wycombe now drop down to 11th, but are now just three points off the play off places.

A blistering volley from Garry Thompson, a penalty from Joe Jacobson and an own goal were the highlights on an otherwise frustrating afternoon.

Boss Gareth Ainsworth made four changes to the starting line-up, with Southwell, Freeman, Wood and Gape coming in, with Myles Weston and Sam Saunders and missing out through injury, and Adebayo Akinfenwa and Luke O’Nien dropping to the bench.

Cheltenham made a great start to the game, and raced into a two-nil lead.

Aaron Pierre was penalised for a handball 20 yards from goal after just 7 minutes. Harry Pell’s free kick fizzed through the wall, and although Jamal Blackman got a strong hand to it, he parried it to the on-rushing Billy Waters, who coolly slotted home.

Minutes after, Joe Jacobson cleared a Danny Wright strike off the line, but Adams Park was stunned into silence after Cheltenham bagged a second.

James Rowe picked up the ball just inside the Wycombe half, and went on a surging run down the left hand side, before firing in a cross which Harry Pell slotted home on 13 minutes.

Wycombe managed to drag themselves back into the game 10 minutes later.

Michael Harriman sent in a floated cross, which defender Carl Winchester got a touch on to deflect past his Rob Lainton.

The goal came against the run of play, but it sparked the home team and fans into action.

Wycombe grew in confidence and strength, and the Chairboys were then buoyed after the visitors were reduced to 10 men.

Jordan Cranston picked up two quick-fire yellow cards, the second for bringing down Wycombe skipper Matt Bloomfield as he surged forward.

Just minutes later, Wycombe made their extra man advantage count.

Joe Jacobson hurled in a long throw into the Cheltenham penalty area, and it was flicked on by Pierre, before Thompson fired in a thunderous volley past the flailing Lainton, to send the two sides in level after a frenetic first half.

As the teams re-emerged, Ainsworth bought on fan’s favourite Adebayo Akinfenwa for Dominic Gape, as the Chairboys went into a 4-3-3 formation.

However, Cheltenham defender Jack Barthram suffered a nasty looking head injury, and the game was delayed for around 10 minutes as he received treatment, before being stretchered off.

As the game got back underway, the Chairboys continued to press the Robins, making their extra man advantage count, and Scot Kashket had a goal ruled out for offside.

As the Chairboys probed, they finally went ahead after 80 minutes.

Winger Garry Thompson was bundled over in the box by Pell, with Joe Jacobson stepping up and sending Lainton the wrong way, making it 3-2.

But just three minutes later, Cheltenham brought it back level with a penalty of their own.

Danny Wright, who was leading the line on his own, was brought down by Harriman, and referee Carl Boyeson wasted no time in pointing to the spot for the second time in the afternoon.

Blackman dived to his right hand side to save Waters’ tame penalty, but Wasters was quickest to react and managed to prod the ball home.

Wood almost got the winner on 88 minutes, after Kashket burst through the defence and drew the keeper out of his box, but he could not divert his effort on target.

Danny Wright could have nabbed it for the Robins in the final minutes after a swift counter attack, but his effort dribbled wide.

But, the visitors managed to hold on and the game finished 3-3.