Exeter 0

Wycombe 2

 

TWO GOALS in six second half minutes maintained Wanderers’ unbeaten away record and made it a very happy third anniversary week for manager Gareth Ainsworth.

Joe Jacobson’s free kick set Wanderers en-route to all three points in a remarkable second half comeback after City had bossed the first 45 minutes.

But when you are as defensively resilient as Wycombe are and you have got a wand like Jacobson’s left boot you are always in with a chance of turning things around.

And having made the breakthrough the killer second wasn’t long in arriving – although it came via a giant helping hand from former Wanderer Joel Grant who cheaply conceded possession to set Wycombe up for a clinical counter attack which Garry Thompson finished off.

The 360 Wycombe fans would never have seen it coming during that first half when Exeter pulled their heroes all around the pitch but didn’t have the finish to match their approach play.

Wanderers named an unchanged side from last week and travelled west defending a proud unbeaten away record just like they did last season when the Grecians beat them in Devon but Gareth Ainsworth’s Blues got revenge at Adams Park famously beating them with a goal in the 12th minute of stoppage time.

Wycombe’s intent was clear from the off; to be quick and direct against their hosts who preferred the passing game.

However the Blues quickly fizzled out though after harmless long- pots from McGinn and Jacobson as Exeter grew into it. Wanderers struggled to get any meaningful possession in the final third while Exeter launched wave and wave of attack without the finishing to match.

Twice in the space of two minutes Blues keeper Matt Ingram was forced into action. First he denied City centre half Troy Brown who had stayed up front and reacted first when former Wanderer Joe Grant played a long diagonal into the six yard box. Brown’s finish was unconvincing though and Ingram deflected it out for a corner.

Moments later the trouble came down the other side. Michael Harriman mistimed a sliding tackle and another ex-Wanderer Craig Woodman robbed him to set up an attack which finished with Ingram improvising with his legs to keep out David Wheeler.

Wycombe’s response was muted although  Jacobson did thud another long ranger into the road outside.

Exeter were enjoying plenty more possession though. Will Hoskins hooked a shot wide and the hosts should have taken the lead on 20 minutes. They carved the Wycombe defence open but when Grant was put clean through he wasted the chance to put one over his former paymasters when he lifted the ball over the bar with just Ingram to beat.

It was a huge let-off for Wycombe who were struggling to get their midfield on the ball as Exeter made good use of the flanks.

Wycombe are known for their resilience though and even when things aren’t going right they hang in there and remain a threat. That was emphasised when McGinn robbed Grant in midfield and the ball ended up at the feet of Marcus Bean whose effort bounced just wide of the Exeter post.

The play soon switched back to the other end though and Exeter opened Wycombe up again with Wheeler and then Hoskins combining to thread in Grant again but the Jamaica international wanted too much time, checked back from a promising position and was promptly crowded out by the Wanderers defenders who got back to cover.

Exeter’s wing play continued to menace Wanderers. Lee Holmes skinned Bean but again when the cross came in Grant failed to make the most of it.

Bean then got a stern talking to and a yellow for a late challenge on Wheeler. Bean was subsequently booed every time he touched the ball.

The chances continued to come Exeter’s way and Wheeler was just a toenail away from connecting with a deep cross to the far post before Exeter had frantic appeals for a penalty turned away, claiming Troy Brown was held back when he tried to shoot, a decision they were still arguing about when the teams came off at half time.

Wycombe needed the break and the chance to reorganise. The personnel remained the same when they re-emerged and the pattern remained the same as well as Holmes had an early effort deflected for a corner and City started on top.

But anyone who knows anything about Wycombe knows you can never write them off. And they took the lead from their first attack of the econd period. They won a free kick on the D when Holmes fouled Luke O’Nien and Joe Jacobson stroked a great free kick around the wall and into the net for a 51st minute lead.

Six minutes later and the lead was doubled in a moment former Wycombe hero Grant will want to forget. He cheaply conceded possession to Michael Harriman who raced into space, fed McGinn who in turn fed Garry Thompson who does not miss those one on ones.

After being so on top in the first half, Exeter now looked a dispirited ragged bunch.

Grant was soon replaced by Alex Nicholls as Exeter brought on three subs in quick succession. The Devonians battled gamely, won corners and had shots, but Wycombe don’t give up two-goal leads. The Blues defence blocked everything that was chucked at them.

City got crosses in but it was the Wycombe heads who were getting on the end of them and when the shots came in, there was always a blue body blocking them. And when they weren’t on hand, Ingram was as he proved to paw away a late Tom Nichols effort as Wycombe comfortably held on to  win a match that looked beyond them for 45 minutes.

Tempers flared at the end with veteran Exeter striker Clinton Morrison angrily accusing substitute Ryan Sellers of cheating when the young Blues defender lay stricken in the box after being whacked by the ball from close range and needed a stretcher to leave the field.

Morrison was still arguing the point at the end confronting Ainsworth and refusing to shake any Wycombe hand.