Phillips inspired Blues equal points record

4:48pm Saturday 3rd May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Wanderers 2 Bradford 1.

SEVENTEEN year-old debutant Matty Phillips laid on two goals as Wanderers equalled their points record with victory over Bradford City.

The teenager set up Delroy Facey and Leon Knight as the Blues equalled their points record of 78 in their final game of the league season before the play-offs.

But it was so nearly a nightmare afternoon for Wanderers who could have lost keeper Frank Fielding for the play-offs.

The ref decided to take no action when the on-loan Blackburn glovesman conceded a penalty bringing down David Brown in the box.

Many refs wold have had no hesitation in flashing the red card and no one at Wycombe could have complained if Fielding had been sent off - a decision which would have ruled him out of the play-offs, but the ref didn't even book him deciding a penalty was enough punishment.

Earlier Wanderers made a dream start taking the lead after just six minutes with the inspirational Phillips playing a huge part.

Picking the ball up in midfield the teenager who made his debut coming on as a late substitute at Notts County last week, drove confidently at the defence.

He glided past two would-be-tacklers before slipping the perfect pass through to Delroy Facey.

The big man took it in his stride before drilling in his first Wycombe goal off the far post.

It wasn't the start City defender David Wetherall would have wanted, playing the last act of his 19-year professional career, but his team should have been on level terms soon after.

No Wycombe player went to close down Paul Heckingbottom and when Fielding could only push out his long-range effort, Luke Medley should have done so much better than boot his effort on the follow up into the crowd.

But while he lacked composure, Phillips oozed confidence taking the majority of Blues' free kicks and corners from either side.

His delicately delivered 25th minute free kick caused chaos in the City defence and when keeper Scott Loach could only paw the ball away from under his bar Mike Williamson returned the ball and Blues skipper David McCracken headed against the bar.

But Phillips had the City defence in trouble again moments later with a corner the Bantams could not defend.

Mike Williamson won the header and Leon Knight swivelled on the bouncing ball and slammed it into the net from close range to double Wycombe's lead.

Their advantage was cut though two minutes before half time when Fielding chopped down David Brown as they both chased Ben Starosta's ball into the box.

The keeper's heart must have been in his mouth as Brown went down and referee Miller pointed to the spot.

Fielding could not have complained if he had seen red but he didn't even get a yellow card as the ref showed leniency.

Medley didn't though sending Fielding the wrong way to halve the deficit.

And the Bantams could have been level before half time but this time Fielding got his timing spot on as he charged out to whip the ball off the toe of Scott Phelan after Brown's pass had sliced the defence open again.

The match had been played out in a carnival atmosphere with the Bradford fans, many in fancy dress, determined to make the most of the last day of the season with Mexican waves and congas the order of the day.

And their side began the second half in the ascendancy with Omar Daley stinging Fielding's fingers with a low shot and David McCracken having to make a vital block to keep Blues' lead intact.

The game opened out and Leon Knight went close at the other end cutting inside before unleashing a low shot which fully extended Loach.

Facey was next to try his luck, teed up by Holt he smashed in a fierce half volley which the keeper was relieved to gather.

But the save of the day belonged to Fielding, flinging himself to his left to push out Daley's blockbuster after the Bradford man had cut inside Tommy Doherty and threatened to rip the net away from the posts.

It was Fielding's last act though as he was substituted by Jamie Young with the play-offs in mind.

But it was the Bradford keeper who was next to be called into action needing two attempts to gather a deflected long-range effort from the industrious Facey.

Facey's striker partner Knight earned himself a foolish booking kicking the ball away but he almost made himself a hero with a low drive which Loach turned around the base of the post.

Wanderers finished with a lap of honour but the real work is still to be done with the play-offs starting next week.