Aaron Amadi-Holloway played the role of super sub as he climbed off the bench to earn a 1-1 draw for Wanderers against Aldershot at the EBB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The striker found the net with ten minutes left when he turned home Jason Banton’s right wing cross as Wanderers closed out their pre-season schedule with a draw.

Earlier, the non-league side had taken the lead shortly after half-time when captain Sam Hatton smashed the ball past Matt Ingram from close range.

A competitive game was just what Wycombe needed and Aldershot made sure they got exactly that as they warmed up for their League Two opener against York on Saturday.

With just seven days to go until that match, a worrying sight for Wanderers fans was the omission of captain and talisman Paul Hayes from the matchday squad.

The striker played 45 minutes against Basingstoke Town on Tuesday night before being replaced at the break, and he was not risked in Hampshire with the game against York on Saturday looming large.

In the skipper’s absence Garry Thompson was given a lone striker role with support either side from Banton and Sam Wood, with the former Plymouth winger proving too hot to handle for the Shots defence.

A feisty opening was littered with fouls – one of which led to Banton showcasing his prowess from the dead ball, whipping a right-footed rasper over the wall and towards the top corner where it was kept out only by the fingertips of Phil Smith.

Despite dominating the first quarter of the match it was the National League side that came closest to breaking the deadlock when Rhys Browne wriggled away from Anthony Stewart and saw his placed effort smothered by the onrushing Ingram.

The ‘keeper came to the rescue once again moments later when he got down smartly at his near post to block Dan Walker’s fierce drive from the edge of the box.

Buoyed by their increased presence in the game, Aldershot burst forward again and were only denied a half-time lead by Ingram, who fended away Tom Richards’ well struck half-volley after the full-back had burst into the box.

The home side continued to force the issue after the break and they deservedly took the lead after 54 minutes when Hatton slammed the ball past Igram.

The Shots captain was in acres of space in the box as he collected Browne’s cross before picking out the top corner.

Wanderers were struggling for attacking fluency in the absence of Hayes, although they might have hit straight back had Thompson better directed his header from a corner.

Substitute Luke O’Nien, who did his best to disrupt the hosts with a feisty cameo, tested Smith with a drive from the edge of the box but it was easily dealt with by the Shots ‘keeper.

Another arrival from the bench, Amadi-Holloway, did level the match with just ten minutes left when he met Banton’s cross with a diving header that was perfectly placed in the far corner.

Banton came closest to finding a winner in the closing stages but both side settled for a draw as they rounded off preparations for their respective league campaigns.

Wanderers: Ingram, Jombati (Kretzschmar), Jacobson, Pierre, Stewart, Bloomfield (O’Nien), McGinn (Harriman), Rowe, Wood, Banton, Thompson (Amadi-Holloway)
Subs not used: Lynch, Bean,