Wanderers 2, Accrington 2,

Wycombe’s Tuesday night jynx continued at Adams Park after Accrington left Buckinghamshire with a share of the points –moving Blues back to third in League Two.

The Chairboys have not won a home league fixture on a Tuesday night for over three years although when Sam Wood put Blues in front with his second in as many games that run looked to be coming to an end.

Accrington didn’t lie down though and after Terry Gornell struck an equaliser moments before half-time Piero Mingoia blasted them ahead in the second half.

As the game entered its final quarter Alfie Mawson popped up to grab an equaliser and the hosts threw everything they had at the visitors but ultimately came up just short in their efforts to find a winner.

For the third game running Gareth Ainsworth could only name six substitutes on the bench with Sido Jombati still recovering from a foot injury and Hogan Ephraim struggling with the illness that ruled him out of Saturday’s starting XI.

Wanderers hadn’t won a league game at Adams Park since March 6, 2012, leading to the Blues boss describing their midweek home from as “abysmal” in his programme notes.

Accrington, defying their lowly league position, started brightly and fashioned the first chance of the game with just two minutes played as Mingoia swung a cross over from the right which Kai Naismith nodded a couple of yards wide.

Joe Jacobson, who has scored against Wycombe for Stanley at Adams Park, drove forward and unleashed a hopeful effort from distance which deflected out for a corner. The left-back took the resulting set-piece which was met by Mawson, who couldn’t control his header as it looped over the bar.

Jacobson was supporting Blues’ attacks well and his tenacious work led to him creating the first clear cut chance of the match after 12 minutes.

After some neat build-up play by Matt Bloomfield the full-back dispossessed Mingoia and drilled a low cross into the near post which bobbled around the box before Paul Hayes lashed an effort over the bar from eight yards out.

The hosts threatened again moments later as Bloomfield played a ball into Hayes on the edge of the box which the captain smartly flicked back into his patch allowing the midfielder to hit a first time strike toward goal.

It was well struck and Scott Davies could do nothing but parry it straight back into the goal mouth, but, fortunately for the visiting stopper, a red shirt reached the ball first and cleared it to safety.

Plenty of effort was on display from both teams but little quality in the opening stages as the two sets of players looked jaded from their respective efforts on Saturday.

Following a free-kick, centre-back Aaron Pierre found himself in Accrington’s penalty box with the ball heading his way. He attempted a first time effort on the turn but skewed a left-foot shot tamely wide.

The crowd at Adams Park were somewhat underwhelmed with what they’d seen in the opening stages but they had something to shout about as the game approached the half hour mark when Wood notched for the second game running.

It initially seemed as though the chance to score had passed Blues by after Fred Onyedinma raced through on goal and saw his effort smothered by Davies, but Hayes, ever alive to an opportunity, picked the ball up and turned it into the centre where Wood was well placed to nod the ball in.

Stanley’s early promise had petered out and Wanderers had seized total control of the game, with the visitors’ frustrations plain to see as Dean Winnard crudely hacked down Hayes and received a yellow card.

Further efforts on the away goal came from Jacobson, with his rarely used right foot, and then the right peg of Sam Saunders with both shots forcing Davies into diving saves.

Out of the blue the 31 fans that had made the long journey down from Lancashire were given something to lift their spirits seconds before the half-time whistle.

John Coleman’s side had moved the ball well down Wanderers’ left side and some more good build-up on that flank led to Sean Maguire squaring the ball for strike partner Gornell who bundled the ball past Matt Ingram. Ainsworth was clearly up for the fight and could be seen geeing his players up as the second half kicked off.

The Wycombe manager almost saw his troops give him the perfect antidote to Accrington’s sucker punch when Mawson rose highest to meet Jacobson’s corner but the defender could only direct his header narrowly wide of the post.

Wood, again one of Wanderers’ brightest sparks, came close to notching his second of the match when as the ball fell to him from a defensive clearance he took one touch to settle himself before unleashing a fierce half volley which flew just wide of the target.

If the fans in the terrace behind the goal thought that was close then they saw the hosts come within a whisker of a second goal when Saunders lined up a free-kick on the left-hand side.

The on loan Brentford man arrived at Adams Park with a reputation for scoring free-kicks and he sent a superb dipping effort cannoning back off the inside of the post.

If the visitors’ first goal had arrived against the run of play then their second fell into that category as well as they scored with their first attack of note in the second half.

A long throw into the box wasn’t properly dealt with by the home defence and as the ball made its way out to the edge of the box Mingoia sent it flying past Ingram with a thunderous effort.

As the game ticked into its final quarter Blues hauled themselves level amidst huge relief from the home faithful.

Saunders floated another free-kick into the box and this time it was the Stanley defenders who failed to clear their lines, allowing Mawson to send an effort goalwards. His shot was heading straight for the ‘keeper before taking a wicked deflection off a red shirt and spinning past Davies in goal.

In an instant the atmosphere had changed from a subdued, dull hum to a cauldron of noise from the 2,621 fans in Adams Park and they roared again as Wood rolled dragged an effort just past the post.

Once again Wanderers assumed the driving seat and flooded forward at every possible opportunity with Pierre exemplifying their urgency for a winner as he dribbled past three players on his way to the Accrington box.

Mawson and Pierre found themselves further and further forwards as time ran away from Blues and the duo were unable to help fashion any last-minute drama as Accrington held Wanderers for the second time this season.

Wanderers: Ingram, Yennaris, Jocobson, Mawson, Pierre, Saunders, Bloomfield (Murphy), Bean, Wood, Hayes, Onyedinma (Holloway)
Substitutes not used: Lynch, Craig, Fletcher, Rowe,
Goals: Wood 30, Mawson 69,

Accrington: Davies, Jones (Conneely), Atkinson, Winnard, Mingoia, Naismith, Windass, Crooks, Joyce, Gornell, Maguire (Whitehead)
Substitutes not used: Liddle, McCartan, Hunt, Gilchrist, Bruna, Goals: Gornell 45+1, Mingoia 61,

Referee: S Martin
Assistant referees: I Cooper and D Leach
Fourth official: G Russell
 

Attendance 2,621 (31 Accrington)