Adebayo Akinfenwa came to Wycombe’s rescue two minutes from time to keep their playoff dreams alive with a deserved 1-1 draw against Morecambe at the Globe Arena.

The talismanic striker forced home the ball from close range on 88 minutes for his 18th goal of the season after a scramble in the box.

Kevin Ellison’s 80th minute strike looked to have been enough for the home side when he rifled home a shot from inside the box that gave Jamal Blackman no chance.

Before that, substitute Paris Cowan-Hall had Wycombe’s best chance five minutes earlier when he smacked his header against the woodwork after a superb cross from Aaron Pierre.

Akinfenwa had the first sniff of a chance on two minutes but he sliced his shot wide from the edge of the area after holding off Morecambe defender Dean Winnard.

Wycombe had started the game brightly with the experienced front three of Akinfenwa, Paul Hayes and Garry Thompson to the fore.

Thompson had the next opportunity on seven minutes but his firm strike from 20 yards went wide of Danijel Nizic’s left-hand post.

Morecambe had the next chance and Blackman had to be at his very best on 10 minutes as Michael Rose let fly from 25 yards but the on-loan Chelsea keeper was at full stretch to tip the ball round the post.

The home side were beginning to get in the game and Aaron McGowan saw his shot blocked by wide by Pierre on 18 minutes.

Jim Bentley’s side were enjoying a purple patch and moments later, Paul Mullin got away from Pierre but his fierce effort from 15 yards was tipped over by Blackman.

Akinfenwa then had the best chance for the visitors on 22 minutes, heading inches wide from Joe Jacobson’s superb cross.
Blackman then came to the rescue of the Chairboys again on 26 minutes as he palmed away Kevin Eliison’s rasping effort.

However, the visitors had a good spell of their own after the half hour mark with a succession of corners, culminating in Thompson curling an effort just over from 12 yards.

Sam Saunders came close to emulating his wonder goal at Barnet on 37 minutes, smashing a rocket just over the bar.

Morecambe had one more chance before the break as McGowan surged through the midfield but Blackman held his shot well.

The Chairboys made a bright start to proceedings in the second half and Saunders saw his free-kick clawed away by Nizic.

It was becoming a real battle in midfield, with tackles flying in from both sides. 

Luke O’Nien, fresh from a brace against Doncaster last weekend, crashed an effort just wide on 58 minutes after some clever hold-up play by Hayes.

Thompson almost got a goal against his old club two minutes later when he got onto the end of O’Nien’s sublime pass, ghosted past Whitmore but was denied by the fingertips of Nizic.

The home side came so close to taking the lead on 71 minutes when Paul Mullin found Ellison in the box with a brilliant cross but his header was blocked by Michael Harriman with the goal at his mercy.

Subsititute Paris Cowan-Hall was inches from giving Wanderers the lead with 15 minutes remaining when he met Pierre’s magnificent centre with a crunching header but he was denied by the woodwork.

Ellison then thought he had spoiled the party with his smart finish on 10 minutes from time and with Wanderers desperate for an equaliser, Akinfenwa was foiled by a smart save by Nizic, after turning expertly in the area.

O’Nien was in the thick of the action and he had a header well held by Nizic on 87 minutes after neat wing-play by Myles Weston but fortunately

Akinfenwa managed to keep his cool to smash home 60 seconds later.
The visitors then laid siege to Morecambe’s goal but couldn’t quite get that all-important winner.

With one game to go, Wycombe sit one point off the playoffs. It is sure to be another rollercoaster at Adams Park next Saturday.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Blackman, Harriman, Jombati, Pierre, Jacobson (sub: Stewart, 67), Bean, O’Nien, Saunders, Hayes (sub: Cowan-Hall, 61), Akinfenwa, Thompson (sub: Weston, 81). Subs: Richardson, Gape, Bloomfield, Southwell.

MORECAMBE: Nizic, McGowan (sub: Wakefield, 83), Kenyon, Edwards, Winnard, Mullin (sub: Yawson, 76), Murphy (sub: Fleming, 55), Molyneux, Ellison, Whitmore, Rose. Subs: Roche, Conlan, Wildig, Evans.

REFEREE: Darren Drysdale