Wycombe Wanderers’ dreadful run of form continued as they lost their fifth successive league match, going down 2-1 to Crawley Town at home.

Josh Payne’s sublime 84th minute free-kick gave Dermot Drummy’s men the points as they came from behind to earn the three points.

Adebayo Akinfenwa gave the Chairboys the lead on 15 minutes before Joe McNerney equalised on 41 minutes.

Wanderers edged proceedings overall but couldn’t put away some decent chances before Town had a chance to equalise.

There was also a minute’s applause for Wanderers legend Paul McCarthy in the fifth minute, marking the former defender’s number that he wore with pride in over 200 appearances for the club.

Crawley had the first chance of the game on 12 minutes after a quiet start when Jimmy Smith headed wide from Dean Cox’s excellent free-kick.

Wycombe came back three minutes later when Sam Wood’s rasping strike was superbly tipped over by Glenn Morris.

However, from the resulting corner, Wood’s excellent delivery found Max Muller who headed down to Adebayo Akinfenwa, who back-heeled it superbly into the net.

Two minutes later, a mix-up in the Crawley backline led to Paris Cowan-Hall getting a good opportunity to double the lead but his lob from distance went well over.

On 24 minutes, another dangerous Wood set piece had Morris in trouble and a combination of Cowan-Hall and Muller headed over the bar.

Wanderers went on the attack again a minute later when Matt Bloomfield headed wide after excellent play by Luke O’Nien and Akinfenwa.

The Chairboys were beginning to get on top and O’Nien’s shot from edge of the box went off target after more exquisite hold-up play by Akinfenwa.

The came Crawley’s equaliser when referee Gavin Ward initially gave a goal-kick but changed his mind to a corner from which McNerney thumped home a header much to the dismay of the Wycombe faithful.

A flashpoint occurred on 50 minutes when O’Nien was left in a crumpled heap in his own area. Akinfenwa was particularly animated with one of the visiting players but Ward kept his cards in his pocket.

Will De Havilland almost scored a contender for goal of the season on 55 minutes but his brilliant volley from 25 yards was smartly turned away by Morris.

Two minutes later, Ward turned down what appeared to be a good shout for a penalty when Cowan-Hall appeared to be hauled to the ground.

Approaching the 70 minute mark, the game was becoming more scrappy with Gareth Ainsworth’s men desperate for a winner.

However, Payne had the final say when he smashed home a brilliant free-kick from 25 yards via the underside of the bar to give Blackman no chance.

Wycombe pressed for an equaliser but Town held firm as Wycombe embark in their worst run in the league since September 2011.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Blackman, Harriman, Muller, De Havilland, Jombati, Gape, O’Nien (sub: Weston, 87), Bloomfield (sub: Saunders, 75), Wood, Akinfenwa, Cowan-Hall (sub: Jakubiak, 80). Subs: Richardson, Thompson, Bean, Freeman.

CRAWLEY TOWN: Morris, McNerney, Blackman (sub: Yorwerth, 68), Connolly, Lelan (sub: Young, 21), Smith, Djalo (sub: Payne, 71), Henderson, Cox, Boldewijn, Collins. Subs: Mersin, Bawling, Clifford, Murphy.

REFEREE: Gavin Ward