Adebayo Akinfenwa’s first goal for Wycombe Wanderers was cancelled out by Sean McConville as the Blues were held to a 1-1 draw by Accrington Stanley at Adams Park.

The burly forward nodded home early on before poor defending allowed Stanley back into the game in the second half.

The Blues were by far the better side in the first half and will surely rue failing to make the most of their superiority with a second goal.

Wanderers now turn their focus to a trip to Blackpool on Saturday where they will hope to pick up their first away win of the season.

Akinfenwa’s impressive cameo display against Grimsby Town earned the former AFC Wimbledon man a first league start for the Blues.

He made his presence felt after just five minutes as his power in the air proved too much for a static Stanley defence.

The breakthrough goal came after a handball on the right gave Joe Jacobson the chance to swing a free-kick into the box.

The flight of the cross was perfect and left Wycombe’s marquee summer signing with a simple header from six yards which he gleefully dispatched.

It was the Blues first goal in the first half of a home match since December 2015 and handed them the ideal start against a side they last beat at Adams Park in 2009.

Fresh from his goalscoring heroics on Saturday, Anthony Stewart made his 100th appearance for the club at centre-back.

He started in front of Chelsea loanee and Debutant Jamal Blackman who made an assured start to life as a Chairboys player as he claimed a number of high balls and distributed well.

Gareth Ainsworth’s side had started well and should have been two ahead when Akinfenwa’s delicate header across goal found Matt Bloomfield in space.

The long-serving midfielder arrived on the penalty spot but could only guide his low shot off Dayle Southwell before Stanley keeper Aaron Chapman claimed the loose ball.

A near carbon copy of the delivery which led to Wycombe’s opener almost gave them a second goal just before the interval.

This time Jacobson found Aaron Pierre and he nodded back across goal, only to see his effort cleared off the line as Southwell closed in.

All of the Blues Good work was undone three minutes of the second half starting as a succession of errors allowed McConville to score.

Firstly, Sam Wood slid in when a simple clearance would have sufficed to allow Janoi Doncaien the chance to cross from wide on the right.

His ball somehow deceived the Wanderers defence to bounce invitingly for McConville to guide home unmarked at the back post.

Wood went within inches of making up for his part in the goal six minutes later in spectacular fashion.

The winger’s strike from all of 30 yards was good enough to beat Chapman in the visitor’s goal but clipped the top of the bar on its way over.

Wanderers had lost the rhythm and incisive passing game which made them such a threat in the first half, and last season’s play-off semi-finalists were far more aggressive in the second period.

Neither side looked like creating any clear cut chances bar a Garry Thompson almost going clear on goal after a stray back pass.

Stanley always looked the more likely, however, and a shot from distance stung the fingers of Blackman with just over 10 minutes to play.

Substitute Nick Freeman made an impact from the bench and almost stole the points for his side with a 30 yard drive in the dying stages.

His effort skipped of the turf and was turned away by Chapman who did superbly to get down to the ball and preserve parity until the full-time whistle.

Wycombe Wanderers: Blackman; Jombati, Stewart, Pierre, Jacobson (Freeman 63), Harriman, Bloomfield, McGinn, Wood (Bean 70), Southwell, Akinfenwa (Thompson 70)

Subs not used: Richardson, Rowe, Freeman, De Havilland

Accrington Stanley: Aaron Chapman; Donacien, Beckles, Hughes, Pearson, O’Sullivan (Hewitt 85), Connelly, Davies, McConville, Eagles (Boco 84), Kee

Subs not used: Parish; Jones, Hery, Lacey

Referee: Brendan Malone

Bookings: McConville (dissent five)Eagles (foul on Stewart 26), Pearson (foul on Harriman 44), Jacobson (foul on O’Sullivan 45+1), Thompson (foul on McConville 83)

Attendance: 2,747 (away 51)