Cameron McGeehan’s first half wonder strike proved the difference as Luton Town consigned Wycombe Wanderers to a 1-0 defeat at Adams Park.

The first half volley took the game away from the Blues in a game that saw them start brightly but fade away in the second half.

Wycombe will now look to bounce back when they head to Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night after falling to 10th in League Two as a result of the defeat.

Wanderers started well and almost took the lead in spectacular fashion in the eighth minute as Jason McCarthy volleyed wide.

McCarthy, who extended his loan spell with the club for the rest of the season on Monday, arrived at the edge of the box to connect perfectly with Joe Jacobson’s deep corner, but his powerful drive flew just wide of the left upright.

Moments later the work rate of Michael Harriman saw the Blues go close again as he chased down Alan Sheehan 30 yards out and raced through on goal.

However, he dragged his left-footed effort harmlessly wide of the mark. Momentum was now well and truly with the home side and it was Matt Bloomfield’s turn to go close as his first time shot from Paris Cowan-Hall’s cross went inches wide from close-range.

The match then settled into a more relaxed pace as both sides looked to retain possession and control proceedings.

This relative calm was shattered with five minutes remaining in the half as McGeehan struck a superb volley from the edge of the box, which left debutant Ryan Allsop with no chance in the Wycombe goal.

Having allowed the ball to bounce the midfielder hit his dipping effort across goal and into the top left corner of the Blues net to give Luton a barely deserved lead at half-time.

Indeed, it was a lead that Wycombe felt they should have been given the chance to cancel out before the break as Scott Cuthbert appeared to handle in the box.

The centre-back’s arm was outstretched and clearly connected with Harriman’s driven cross, but the referee turned down Wycombe’s vociferous appeals.

Allsop did well to prevent Wycombe going further behind early in the second half as McGeehan got on the end of a dangerous in-swinging cross.

The new Wycombe number one first saved and then threw himself bravely in front of the loose ball as two Hatters players attempted to bundle home from a yard out.

With just under an hour played Wanderers felt further aggrieved by a refereeing decision as Cowan-Hall saw his headed goal ruled out for a foul.

He had risen highest to get on the end of a deep cross and head home from under the crossbar, but referee, Seb Stockbridge, saw an infringement on Elliot Justham and blew for a free kick to Luton.

A direct run from Craig Mackail-Smith almost doubled the visitors’ advantage as he drove in from the left-wing, beat Sido Jombati and slid a low shot across the face of goal from the tightest of angles.

Allsop, who was quietly efficient throughout, made a fine save in the 70th minute as he pawed away Jack Marriot’s volley from six yards out.

Luton were inches from sealing to game with three minutes left as Jacobson’s well-timed tackle broke to Paul Benson.

The forward had only to prod home from two yards out, but on the stretch saw his strike rebound back off the Wycombe post.

As the game ticked into its final stages Wycombe resorted to a long ball approach as they searched for an equaliser.

Their failure to challenge for the second and even first ball at times meant that the tactic proved ineffective and Luton haled on to the points with relative ease.

Wycombe Wanderers: Allsop; Jombati, McCarthy, Pierre, Jacobson, Harriman, Bean, Bloomfield, Cowan-Hall (75 Amadi-Holloway), Ugwu (64 Thompson), Hayes (c) (79 O’Nien)

Subs not used: Richardson; McGinn, Stewart, Wood

Luton Town: Justham; O’Donnell, Cuthbert (c), Sheehan, Howells, Pigott (63 Benson), McGeehan, Lee, Marriott (74 Ruddock Mpanzu), Mackail-Smith, Lawless

Subs not used: Tyler; Smith, McCourt, Okuonghae, Banton

Yellow cards: Pigott (43 foul on Jacobson), Lee (53 foul on Cowan-Hall), Marriott (foul on Jombati),

Referee: Seb Stockbridge

Attendance: 4,587 (Away 1,038