Joe Jacobson scored a 94th-minute winner as Wycombe defeated Rochdale to end a run of six games without a win.

Wycombe, who hadn’t won since their 2-0 victory over Burton Albion on December 14, were actually on the back foot as soon as the first minute, when Ryan Allsop was called into a save when Jordan Williams’ fierce effort from the 18-yard line stung the fingertips of the Chairboys stopper.

And after a very timid opening quarter-of-an-hour from both sides, Wycombe found themselves a goal behind in bizarre circumstances in the 18th minute.

READ MORE: Wycombe Wanderers vs Rochdale: Can the Chairboys stop the rut?

Jason McCarthy, who was making his third debut for the club, passed the ball back to Allsop, whose clearance smashed into the back of Ian Henderson, with the ball flying into the middle of the goal.

Everyone in the ground, including Henderson himself, were bemused by what had just happened as the Wycombe fans were stunned into silence.

But Gareth Ainsworth was urging his team on, and after a couple of half-chances from Darius Charles and Adebayo Akinfenwa, Wycombe got their equaliser on 30 minutes through the debutant, McCarthy.

Similar to Rochdale’s strike, the 24-year-old’s goal was incredibly fortunate as his cross from the right-hand side, eluded everyone in the penalty box and floated over the back-peddling Jay Lynch.

READ MORE: Jason McCarthy rejoins Wycombe on loan from Millwall

It was McCarthy’s fifth goal for Wycombe, and he celebrated like a man who was happy to be back home.

As the first-half was drawing to a close, both teams had a number of chances to go into the break 2-1 up, with Nick Freeman having two efforts which went wide, whilst Rochdale’s Calvin Andrew’s looping header went just past Allsop’s goal.

And despite Wycombe being second and Rochdale in 18th, 1-1 at half-time was a very fair score.

But as soon as the second-half started, Wycombe were hungry for blood as just two minutes in, Freeman had another effort but his powerful drive flew over the crossbar.

It was then the turn of Josh Parker to have a shot on goal, but he too couldn’t keep the ball down, as he sliced his chance over from seven yards on 50 minutes. 

Wycombe started to turn the screw as Rochdale sat deeper and deeper into their own half, with Akinfenwa having two glorious chances to give Wycombe the lead.

His first attempt, a header from six yards on the hour mark, took a wicked deflection which went into the side-netting at such pace, that everyone in the BMI Healthcare Stand thought the ‘Beast’ had scored.

Eighteen minutes later, with Lynch off his line, the former Northampton man fired in a curling, left-footed drive towards goal, but the ex-Premier League defender in Paul McShane blocked it off the line.

READ MORE: Wycombe vs Rochdale Live Blog

It looked like Wycombe were heading for their sixth game without a win in the league, but in the 94th minute, Adams Park erupted when the home side were awarded a penalty.

Luke Matheson, the 17-year-old who scored against Manchester United back in September, hacked down substitute Paul Smyth and referee Craig Hicks had no option but to point to the spot.

Up stepped Joe Jacobson, who sent Lynch the wrong way, to coolly place it into the bottom left-hand corner.

The victory means Wycombe remain in second on 47 points.

Their next game is away to Peterborough on January 21.