The Good and the Ugly; Wycombe Keep Fans Dreaming

Willi's Wycombe 2.1

Over the last month, it's been a case of the good and the ugly at Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Having played Bristol Rovers, Yeovil Town, Brentford and Millwall since the last blog, Wanderers are still five points off safety but there are signs of hope. Certainly there was an air of resignation in my last Wycombe post and it's worth pointing out that the Blues are only two points better off than before. Despite this, aided by a slew of loan signings, the team are finally starting to pick up points on a regular basis.

Wanderers have enjoyed playing both Bristol Rovers and Millwall this season, having beaten them home and away. The Blues picked up their fifth win of the season at the Memorial Ground with a battling 3-2 success against Rovers. Penalty specialist Matt Harrold added to his tally to put the away side ahead before the Gas replied with a two goal salvo that might have seen Wycombe crumble. Instead they fought back and penalty duties were handed to new-boy Alex Revell who grabbed his first goal for the club to restore parity. Stuart Beavon's performances of attacking guile and endeavour are fast making him a cult-hero at Adam Park and the 'Beaver' sent around 450 Wycombe fans into ecstasy with an eightieth minute winner.

From this good came a moment of ugliness so blinding that just to glimpse at it, would send the viewer mad. That's certainly how Wycombe fans and no doubt manager Gary Waddock felt, when Yeovil Town came to the home of football in Buckinghamshire. Having suffered a dreary 4-0 defeat at the hands of the visitors on Boxing Day, you would think that the Blues had all the motivation they needed. Sadly, Wycombe may have grabbed a consolation through Matt Harrold from open-play but Yeovil repeated the trick and ran away 4-1 winners. Luke Oliver was introduced to the field of play for the injured lynchpin Adam Hinshelwood and the capitulation began in earnest with Yeovil scoring three times in fifteen minutes. Goalkeeper Scott Shearer also put in an abject display and he has since been sacrificed with Manchester United 'keeper Tom Heaton brought in on loan for the rest of the season.

Usually the thought of an imminent local derby (of sorts) would galvanise the support however the mood going into the game at Griffin Park to face Brentford was downbeat. Eight-hundred and eighty-eight hardy souls braved a cold day to witness a slight upturn in fortunes as Wanderers collected a point in a 1-1 draw. Kevin Betsy's slotted finish had put Wycombe ahead just before the half-hour mark. They held on until fifteen minutes from time, Bees striker Myles Weston spoiling the party.

Talking of Bees, Gary Waddock has brought in out of favour Brentford defender Alan Bennett on a one-month loan. The Irishman went straight into the starting line-up to face Millwall this weekend as the Blues ran out 1-0 winners. The Lions had a penalty saved by Tom Heaton and were unlucky not to score having hit the woodwork too. Not that Wycombe will care. Right-back Julian Kelly, another loanee, this time from Reading, scored a fortuitous goal with his cross into the box evading everyone to plant itself in the back of the net. To add to the drama, Wycombe had Gareth Ainsworth sent-off for violent conduct. Former Blue Tony Craig spat feathers from the sidelines as Ainsworth headed for the tunnel and my sources tell me that the heated exchanges continued after the final whistle.

Flippancy aside, Ainsworth's absence will dent Wycombe's chances of continuing their point-scoring run such is the influence he has exerted in a short space of time. Wanderers could certainly do with his presence as they prepare to face a rampant Southampton side at home on Tuesday night. Even more crucially, Wycombe travel to fellow strugglers Stockport County next week. The phrase 'six-pointer' was invented for these games. Wycombe desperately need to land the final knock-out blow to Stockport's survival chances and create a strong platform to improve their own. There are now only six points between the bottom four and mid-table. A whole host of clubs are now in a dogfight. Tranmere, once seemingly doomed themselves, have clawed their way out of the relegation zone. If Wycombe are to follow, now is the time. We're approaching League One endgame.


WilliWycombe is an exile from the fair town of High Wycombe, having once been a season ticket holder at Adams Park. He doesn't get to many games these days and his views are those of the exile, on the outside looking in and should be treated thusly.