ADEBAYO AKINFENWA’S 83rd minute header gave Wycombe a passage into the FA Cup Fourth Round after narrowly beating plucky Stourbridge FC 2-1 at Adams Park in an enthralling tie.

The inspirational frontman scored with a far post header that beat Matt Gould after an inviting cross from Joe Jacobson.

It had looked good for Gareth Ainsworth’s men on 47 minutes when substitute Sam Wood’s strike wrong-footed Gould after he initially started the move that saw the Stourbridge keeper make a terrific save.

However, Dan Scarr equalised in front of 2,000 travelling fans when he coolly slotted past Jamal Blackman after Wycombe failed to clear their lines.

Throughout the majority of the game, you wouldn’t have guessed that three leagues separated these two teams as they fought out a very even contest.

Stourbridge started the game very positively and Chris Lait saw his third minute shot palmed away by Blackman.

Wanderers came back with a chance of their own a minute later when Scott Kashket chipped a good ball into Akinfenwa but he headed over from six yards.

After a quick start by the Northern Premier League side, Wycombe were getting into their stride and Paris Cowan-Hall’s firmly struck shot on seven minutes was well saved by Matt Gould in the Stourbridge goal.

Stourbridge were certainly giving as good as they got and Blackman had to produce another smart stop on 17 minutes to deny Luke Benbow.

Kashket then easily had the game’s best chance a minute later. The ball fell kindly to the in-form striker in the area but he shot wide with the goal gaping.

The game was starting to open up and Stourbridge had their best opportunity moments later when Dan Scarr turned smartly and cracked a shot at goal but it was superbly beaten away by Blackman.

Benbow served note of this threat on 29 minutes when he crashed a long range volley just over the bar from 30 yards.

Wycombe skipper Matt Bloomfield had to make way on 39 minutes, leaving the field injured to be replaced by Wood.

Wood had the half’s last glimmer of a chance when he shot well over Gould’s bar from 25 yards.

The Chairboys kicked off the second half and immediately went on the front foot in search of a goal as Luke O’Nien’s strike from the edge of the box was well parried by Gould.

However, just a minute later, Wanderers took the lead when some sparkling play by Wood led to him scoring from his own initial good work.

Stourbridge came back strongly from that goal and forced the Chairboys back into their own area with a succession of corners.

Wanderers, still wary of the danger that the Stourbridge attack posed, weathered that slight storm well and Akinfenwa had a chance to double the lead on 57 minutes when he turned his man expertly before seeing his curling effort palmed away by Gould.

The West Midlanders were still fighting and Matt Dodd saw his dangerous ball across the box flash wide just before the hour mark.

Akinfenwa was beginning to make his presence felt a little more and he skewed a shot wide from the edge of the area on 63 minutes.

Stourbridge were still well in the game and they grabbed the equaliser on 70 minutes when Scarr struck.

The visitors were energised by Scarr’s goal and Tom Tonks almost gave his side the lead but saw his rasping cross-cum-shot crash against the crossbar with Blackman beaten.

However, Akinfenwa had the final say and Gareth Ainsworth’s men can now look forward to the fourth round draw on Monday evening.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Blackman, Jombati, Stewart, Pierre, Jacobson, Gape, O’Nien, Bloomfield, Cowan-Hall (sub: Hayes, 67), Akinfenwa, Kashket (sub: Weston, 84). Subs: Brown, Thompson, Bean, Wood, De Havilland.

STOURBRIDGE: Gould, Green, Westlake, Tonks, Duggan (sub: Knight, 89), Scarr, Dodd, Broadhurst, Benbow, Brown (sub: Gater, 77), Lait. Subs: Malhotra, Pierpoint, Canavan, Smikle, Knight, Heath.

REFEREE: Darren England

ATTENDANCE: 6,312