Morecambe’s attack more than just Cole Stockton
Wycombe were clearly aware of the danger posed by League One’s most potent striker, and Anthony Stewart had the unenviable task of keeping him at bay.
For the most part, Stewart did a good job but while Stockton chipped in with an impressive assist for the Shrimps second goal, Morecambe are far more than just a one man attack. Alfie McCalmont may have made his own luck with the opener but Adam Phillips and Jonah Ayunga both deserve credit for their contributions to the afternoon, proving that shutting down Stockton is only part of the solution.
Cole Stockton didn’t score but did bag an assist.
If you go out in the rain, you’re going to get wet
It was a rain-sodden afternoon at Adams Park and on a very wet surface, the visitors adapted to the conditions far better than the home side. Wycombe slipped and slid in the first half, trying too often to overcomplicate the passing and often losing possession with Gareth Ainsworth admitting as much post-match. Morecambe on the other hand managed to keep their composure and were a lot smarter with their passing and movement in the first 45 minutes. The opening goal owed as much to the conditions as David Stockdale’s positioning but the same could be said about Wycombe’s first strike and Kyle Letheren will be disappointed to have let Daryl Horgan’s long-range effort slip through his doubtlessly wet gloves.
A Joe Jacobson corner resulted in a Wycombe goal. Meanwhile, scientists confirmed that the rainwater falling on Adams Park was indeed wet.
Feed the Vokes and he will score
Sam Vokes arrived at Wycombe in a blaze of glory in the summer – a big name with an impressive record that could be a replacement for Adebayo Akinfenwa. Yet there was a caveat – his recent goalscoring record at Stoke City was dubious with just one goal last season. Despite scoring twice already this campaign, some Wycombe fans still remain undecided as to his goal-scoring merits. Yet while he did look a bit isolated in the first half, he nonetheless put in a decent shift at both ends of the pitch – clearing a shot that Stockdale parried and going close with a header from a Joe Jacobson corner. And in the second half he found the net with a superb header from Anthony Stewart’s cross proving that with the right service, he still has that goal-scoring touch.
You still can’t write off Wycombe
Gareth Ainsworth has instilled a ‘never say die’ attitude at Wycombe over the years and last-minute goals and late drama have become a hallmark of his tenure. The victory over Morecambe is the fifth time since October 2018 that Wycombe have won a game in which they trailed by two goals; prior to that they had not achieved such a feat since December 2001. Despite the poor showing in the first half, there was nonetheless a belief that Wycombe had the quality in their ranks to turn things around. And the fourth goal, as exciting as it was, had an air of inevitability about it even if the scorer – Curtis Thompson – was a bit of a surprise, notching up just his second Wanderers strike in nearly three years with the club. Then again, his first was also a late strike from outside the area in a game which Wycombe won at the death after trailing 2-0, so there was a strange sense of déjà vu nonetheless…
They found petrol, braved the rain and cheered three goals – but Morecambe’s loyal fans left Wycombe disappointed.
League One referees aren’t always bad
On occasion, football fans, players, coaches and pundits have been known to criticize referees. No, really. Wycombe contributed to this rare phenomenon last week when Anthony Stewart was sent off at Milton Keynes, claiming that the red card (which was overturned on appeal) should not have been shown. In the interest of balance, it’s only right to highlight when they have a good game, so take a bow (or at least a compliment) Mr Tom Reeves.
He took into account the treacherous conditions, was far from whistle happy, kept his cards in his pocket and allowed the game to flow. Joe Jacobson felt he was fouled by Jonah Ayunga in the build-up to Morecambe’s third when in truth Ayunga was strong and held his footing in the wet. Jacobson then was fouled in the build-up to the winner but Reeves had the good sense to wait and see if an advantage developed before blowing up, which it subsequently did. Whilst Morecambe boss Stephen Robinson may disagree – he was sent to the stands for protesting Wycombe’s third goal – replays suggest any pushing or pulling was minimal and the defence were as much sinning as sinned against.
Refs, don’t you just love em?
WYCOMBE WANDERERS 4 (Horgan 50, Vokes 53, Jacobson/Tafazolli/O’connor o.g./Let’s Call the whole thing off 73, Thompson 90+2)
MORECAMBE 3 (McCalmont 4, Phillips 26, Ayunga 80)
Att: 4,161
words Phil Slatter, D3D4 Wycombe writer