Marcus Bean was the Wycombe hero once more as his second half equaliser ensured a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw against promotion rivals Exeter City at St James' Park.

The midfielder rifled the ball home from eight yards after good work from Matt Bloomfield and Paris Cowan-Hall.

This cancelled out Lloyd James' effort on 12 minutes as his free kick evaded everyone from out on the left wing and nestled in the far corner of Scott Brown's net.

After a tepid display in the first half, Wycombe fought back magnificently after the break with a string of efforts being kept out by Grecians keeper, Christy Pym.

After the equaliser, Bean once again had a sniff but his effort was scrambled clear by the Exeter backline.

However, the home side were always a threat going forward and Nathan McGinley did well to thwart Liam McAlinden on the hour mark.

In-form Nathan Tyson was once again a danger with his pace and power but his effort on 66 minutes was comfortably held by Pym..

Tyson was involved again shortly after as Brown's huge kick missed everyone but the jet-heeled forward just couldn't create a shooting opportunity.

Gareth Ainsworth made the change by bringing on Craig Mackail-Smith for Paris Cowan-Hall. Wanderers had the next effort but Joe Jacobson's free-kick from 25 yards hit the Exeter wall.

Then with 10 minutes to go Wanderers had a let-off as City crossed in, El-Abd's header fell at the feet of sub Ryan Harley, but McGinley rushed across to block.

The Blues had one final opportunity with five minutes remaining when Adebayo Akinfenwa beat off two challenges but saw his shot blocked.

The result saw Wycombe drop to third in the league.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Brown, Moore, El-Abd, Scarr (sub: McGinley, 16), Jacobson, Gape, Bean, Bloomfield, Tyson (sub: Freeman, 83)), Akinfenwa, Cowan-Hall (sub: Mackail-Smith, 76). Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Thompson, De Havilland.

EXETER CITY: Pym, Sweeney, Storey (sub: Woodman, 45), Moore-Taylor, Moxey, Holmes (sub: Harley, 67), Tillson, James, Taylor, McAlinden (sub: Edwards, 73), Stockley. Subs: Jones, Simpson, Wilson, Boateng.

REFEREE: Steve Martin