Blues claim first away win

GOALS from Kevin Betsy and Stuart Beavon earned Wanderers their first away win of the season.

They backed up Tuesday's home win over Barnet to record back-to-back wins for the first time this term.

They produced the quality when it mattered to snuff out the threat of the Football League new-boys who were silenced in their own back yard.

It must have been a sobering afternoon for John Mousinho who rejected a new contract with Wycombe in the summer in favour of a two-year deal with the Football League newboys.

And although he has secured the luxury of an extra year with the Hertfordshire side his prospects of gaining promotion with his new club look far less likely than if he had stayed put.

The Moose was one of the home side's better players but he was powerless to stop his old club overtaking his new side in the league table with a thoroughly professional performance.

Wycombe battled when they had to and played when they could and it was a recipe that was too hot for their enthusiastic but limited hosts.

It might have been different had Stevenage been able to get their noses in front inside the first ten minutes when Mousinho created space for himself on the edge of the Blues box before finding Scott Laird on the overlap and Wanderers were relieved to see the full back's effort deflect wide.

The best chance of the opening 15 minutes went the way of the visitors however.

Gareth Ainsworth's clever spin left his marker on the seat of his pants and his deep cross picked out the unmarked Stuart Beavon on the penalty spot but the forward steered his header wide of the target.

Both sides were struggling to find much time on the ball at this stage and the game was crying out for someone to put their foot on the ball.

Ainsworth did just that in the 35th minute, switching flanks to dig out a deep cross which picked out Kevin Betsy, who peeled away from his marker to plant his header back across the goal and into the back of the net.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of the hosts, who had plenty of huff and puff but looked short of quality.

Wycombe had that and they used it to devastating effect to double their lead on 44 minutes.

Betsy carried the ball forward before sliding the ball wide to his skipper Ainsworth. The veteran was unlucky not to score himself, seeing his shot bounce back off the inside of the post where Beavon was following up to tuck in his first of the season.

Two moments of class had given Blues a vice like grip on the game and it was difficult to see a way back for Stevenage at half time.

Home boss Graham Westley responded to his side's predicament with a double substitution at the break.

Former Wycome striker Charlie Griffin, who had not been given a sniff by his former paymasters, made way for ex-Oxford frontman Yemi Odubade while Laird was replaced by David Bridges.

The double switch energised the hosts for a while and after a pacy Odubade break Holroyd extended Wycombe keeper Nikki Bull for the first time in the afternoon.

Odubade's pace was giving something to think about and Wycombe knew they had to cut the supply line to him and the best way to do that was by taking the game back to Stevenage.

Lewis Montrose did just that with a rasping drive which Michael Bostick flew himself full length to block before it could reach Chris Day's goal.

Beavon, who was a handful all afternoon, went closer still as he turned on a sixpence in the box before taking aim with a shot which deflected over the bar in front of the 753 away fans.

It wasn't all one-way though and Bull had to be smart off his line to dive at the feet of Lawrie Wilson after Mousinho's eye-of-a-needle pass had picked him out.

And Wanderers had a real let off on 68 minutes. For once they left a man unmarked in their box but inexplicably from six yards Jon Ashton flicked his header wide.

It was a scare and a timely reminder to Blues that even on a 2-0 lead they could not afford to switch off.

And they didn't. They went back on the attack and the hardworking Ben Strevens was denied his first league goal in Blues colours on 68 minutes by a smart close-range block by Day.

Wanderers made their first change on 78 minutes with Scott Davies replacing Ainsworth who had enjoyed one of his most productive outigs this season.

But it was Beavon who was Blues' spark all afternoon and with him in this form £125,000 summer signing Scott Rendell must be wondering how he is going to win his place back.

He got his chance with ten minutes left replacing Beavon who left to a standing ovation from the away contingent who had been able to enjoy themselves knowing that the points were safe.

Andy Sandell went close to extending the lead after a mazy run into the box finished with a shot that flashed wide.

A third goal wouldn't have flattered Wanderers but two goals, a clean sheet and three points was more than enough on an afternoon when Wycombe finally looked capable of living up to their pre-season hype.