Wycombe Wanderers reached the knockout stages of the Checkatrade Trophy with a narrow 2-1 victory over Fulham U21s at Adams Park thanks to Scott Kashket's injury-time winner.

Kashket thumped the ball home past excellent Fulham goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond after good work from Paris Cowan-Hall.

Alex Samuel got the home side off to the perfect start with a goal after just two minutes, rifling home from 18 yards after excellent work from Adebayo Akinfenwa.

However, out of the blue, Fulham equalised on 54 minutes with a wonder strike from Cameron Thompson who smashed home a rocket from 25 yards.

Wycombe started brilliantly thanks to Samuel's strike and they looked intent on attacking from the off.

Akinfenwa came close to doubling the lead on five minutes from Nick Freeman’s pinpoint cross.

A minute later, Akinfenwa came even closer when he saw his header deflected inches wide from Paris Cowan-Hall’s delivery.

Sam Saunders nearly scored with an audacious effort from 40 yards which went a yard wide on eight minutes.

The Blues were proving too hot to handle in the early stages with Akinfenwa’s presence causing all sorts of problems for the Fulham defence.

‘The Beast’ got on the end of another Cowan-Hall cross on 12 minutes but saw his header float harmlessly wide.

Fulham looked pacey on the break and Thompson got in behind the Wycombe defence on 14 minutes but his cross was easily held by Yves Ma-Kalambay.

Cowan-Hall was causing his man a real headache down the right-hand side and another superb ball in found Kashket on 21 minutes but his improvised effort crashed against the post.

The Chairboys were firmly in control of the match, keeping possession with ease against their inexperienced opponents.

The visitors did look sharp moving forward at times and Cody Drameh got into the area from Aron Davies’ exquisite pass on 35 minutes but his deflected effort was calmly held by Ma-Kalambay.

Kashket almost gave Wycombe the perfect start to the second half when he latched onto Rob Atkinson’s poor pass on 47 minutes but lashed his fierce effort just wide.

Fulham then got a goal out of nowhere with a wonder strike on 54 minutes, courtesy of Thompson. He turned Curtis Thompson and unleashed an exocet which Ma-Kalambay had no chance with.

Wycombe hit back quickly a minute later when Kashket was denied by a decent stop from Ashby-Hammond.

Wanderers were rocked by that equaliser and looked to turn the screw. On 56 minutes, Akinfenwa turned Kashket’s low cross just wide after good work from Samuel.

The visitors had a golden chance to take the lead on 62 minutes when 15-year-old Harvey Elliott controlled Jerome Opoku’s excellent pass but fired over when well placed.

Cowan-Hall was putting in a lively performance and he wriggled his way into the box on 72 minutes but his shot went straight at Ashby-Hammond.

With the last 15 minutes approaching, Wycombe were stepping up a gear and Kashket nearly got in one-in-one but was denied by a wonderful challenge from Atkinson.

Fulham were defending stoutly and Wanderers were struggling to break down their stubborn resistance.

Ashby-Hammond made another good save on 83 minutes as he blocked Freeman's firm effort from 15 yards.

Ma-Kalambay produced heroics on 89 minutes when an incisive Fulham break saw Chris Kelly's low pass find Fabio Carvalho, who saw his effort brilliantly blocked by the Blues custodian.

The Chairboys almost grabbed a late winner when Matt Bloomfield turned smartly in the box and Kashket's instinctive volley was somehow saved by Ashby-Hammond.

Kashket then got his own just reward with a fine finish to see Wycombe through to the knockout stages.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Ma-Kalambay, Thompson, Bean, Charles (sub: Jacobson, 65), Jombati (sub: Harriman, 65), Saunders, Freeman, Cowan-Hall, Samuel, Akinfenwa (sub: Bloomfield, 65), Kashket. Subs: Allsop, Mackail-Smith, Onyedinma, Williams.

FULHAM U21s: Ashby-Hammond, Opoku (sub: Kelly, 75), Jenz (sub: Carvalho, 46), Francois, Thompson, Mundle-Smith, Harris, Abraham (sub: Elliott, 46), Drameh, Davies, Atkinson. Subs: Garrido, Wickens.

REFEREE: Trevor Kettle

ATTENDANCE: 595