Wycombe 1, Rotherham 0.

SKIPPER Dave McCracken became the first defender to score for Wanderers this season as the Blues edged out promotion rivals Rotherham United in a vital six-pointer at Adams Park this afternoon.

The centre half made up for his horror handball, which gifted Bury a last-minute equaliser on Tuesday, by nodding in Russell Martin's corner to give Wycome only their second home win in 2008.

His powerful 50th minute header ended a 33-game wait for a Wycombe defender to get on the scoresheet.

And it was just what Wycombe needed after dropping five points against two teams in the bottom four last week.

But they had to scrap and fight for the points against a Millers side who began the day one place above the Blues in fifth position.

Wanderers would have needed a three-goal win to overtake Rotherham in the table and in truth there wasn't much to split the sides.

Wycombe, unchanged from the side that tossed away a two-goal lead in midweek, began brightly enough with Sergio Torres smashing over and Leon Knight seeing his snap shot saved.

They went closer still when Tommy Doherty's free kick was clawed away at the far post after a Millers defender had headed it goalwards.

But after that bright opening, Rotherham began to take the ascendancy.

They attacked down both flanks and the Millers, who began the day one place ahead of Wycombe, sensed that this could be an opportunity to extend their advantage.

Wycombe's best moment of the opening period arrived on 34 minutes when Martin chipped a ball over the top for Scott McGleish to run onto.

Blues' leading scorer took a touch to control it before hammering his shot just past the far post.

Rotherham grew in confidence as the half went on and Danny Harrison thought he had fired them into the lead But his blockbuster hit Leon Johnson in the ribcage and the Wycome goal survived.

Rotherham had another great opportunity on the stroke of half time but Chris O'Grady's shot into the near post was never going to trouble Blues glovesman Frank Fielding.

But Wanderers' indecision was very nearly punished at the start of the second half when Leon Johnson received a shout to leave O'Grady's low cross which skidded into the box.

Wycombe needed something special and it came from a most unexpected source.

Wanderers have wasted countless set-pieces this season but they finally got one right when Martin, having won the corner, then pinged the flag kick to the penalty spot where McCracken rose majestically to head in his first goal since his summer switch from Scottish Premier League side Dundee United.

But keeping the lead was a real team effort with even striker McGleish coming back into his own box to head the ball clear.

Having thrown the lead away in such spectacular fashion against fourth from bottom Bury, Wanderers weren't going to make the same mistake.

Boss Paul Lambert sacrificed striker Leon Knight in favour of an extra midfielder, Matt Bloomfield, before the 65 minute mark.

And on a rare breakout Bloomfield might have doubled Blues' lead but he lost his legs under challenge from two defenders.

Moments later he led the charge again feeding Man of the Match Gary Holt who dragged his shot wide.

Wycombe still had some defending to do and Craig Woodman needed to be in the right place at the right time to stop the ball reaching O'Grady who was lining up a shot at what would have otherwise been a free shot at goal.

And Wycombe hearts were in their mouths in injury time when Danny Harrison's shot dipped just over the bar with Fielding stretching.

Wanderers celebrated as though they had won promotion at the end, they haven't yet, but they took a massive stride towards it.