WANDERERS suffered last-gasp agony for the second match running as they went out of the LDV Vans Trophy after a real thriller.

Blues looked to have done enough to take their higher league opponents to extra time when two-goal Charlie Griffin levelled the scores at 2-2 with just seven minutes remaining.

But Wycombe's hopes of a dream day out in the Final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium lasted just five more minutes as Jorge Leitao gobbled up a half chance to send Walsall into the area semi-final.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Wanderers, who saw their 21-match unbeaten league record come to an end in similar circumstances three days earlier with a 2-1 defeat at Bury.

But even though Wanderers' cup hopes came to an end, there were plenty of good things for manager John Gorman to take as his mix-and match side showed they will be a more than a match for teams next season if they continue their relentless march to promotion Gorman said: "It was a cracking game and a credit to both teams. I'm pleased with the performance as it was a good game to show the lads what the standard's going to be like when we go up if all things go well for us.

"We didn't have our full strength side out but we had some very good performances from people who have had to wait for a chance."

Charlie Griffin was one of those to impress. He showed his goalscoring prowess as he took his tally to six goals since his return from an horrific head injury.

His right-footed finish lit the touchpaper for a rip-roaring cup tie when he fired Wanderers into a fifth minute lead with a clinical first time shot from Kevin Betsy's cross after the Wycombe wing man made great strides down the right before rolling the ball into the centre.

It was just reward for Wycombe's enterprising start. They came within a whisker of opening the scoring two minutes earlier when Mike Williamson got in front of his marker to head Clint Easton's corner just over the angle of the post and bar.

But Walsall rallied and their 4-3-3 formation and slick passing style caused Wycombe more problems than any other side have done this season.

They began to take charge of the midfield area where Mark Philo and Russell Martin were making their first starts of the season.

Wycombe's defence dealt with Walsall's forward forays well until Roger Johnson's uncharacteristic miss-kick presented James Constable with a goal on his debut and a 17th minute leveller.

Five minutes later, Walsall were in front as Julian Bennett climbed above Johnson to meet Kris Taylor's cross and head Paul Merson's men into the lead.

But Wycombe fought back strongly again towards the end of the half. Tommy Mooney created a chance out of nothing when he teed up Johnson's pass and in one movement turned to volley the ball goalwards only to frustrated by keeper Joe Murphy.

Mooney then thought he had scored but the ref harshly ruled he had used too much muscle as he won the ball off the defender.

But after surviving the two late scares at the end of the first half and being somewhat fortunate to still be ahead, Walsall could then have put the game out of Blues' reach at the start of the second half but stand-in stopper Steve Williams was having none of it.

The keeper, who was making his first start of the campaign, kept the score down with some wonderful saves at the start of the second period when The Saddlers broke with menace and threatened to kill the tie.

Williams, who also performaed well in the first half, twice denied Matty Fryatt when a goal looked inevitable and with their glovesman on top form Wycombe weathered the storm, switched to a wing back formation, and it wasn't long before they started asking questions of the hosts again.

They took the game to Paul Merson's men and it was no surprise when they grabbed a fully-deserved equaliser. Veteran Tommy Mooney, who played with the energy of a teenager all night, was centre field when he stood up a perfect cross for Griffin, who ghosted in behind the defence to nod in his second of the night.

At that stage few of the 2,571 crowd would have betted against Wycombe winning in extra time.

But it never got that far.

Russell Martin's backpass bobbled horribly in front of Williams and the keeper spooned his kick high into the night sky.

When it landed it was snaffled up by Leitao who started and finished the match-winning move with help in between from Fryatt and Alex Nicholls Walsall: Murphy, Pead, Gerrard, Roper, Bennett, Leitao, Standing, Kinsella (Bradley 81), Kris Taylor, Fryatt, Constable (Nicholls 72).

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Westwood, Osborn.

Booked: Bennett.

Wycombe: Williams, Senda, Williamson, Johnson, Easton, Betsy, Philo (Torres 67), Martin, Bloomfield, Mooney, Griffin.

Subs Not Used: Talia, Dixon, Anya, Gregory.

Booked: Senda.

Attendance: 2,571.

Referee: M Fletcher.