MATCH REPORT: Wycombe Wanderers 3-2 Doncaster Rovers

Wycombe Wanderers produced a stunning comeback at Adams Park on Saturday afternoon as they beat Doncaster Rovers 3-2 to stop a run of four straight defeats and put a dent in the visitor’s play-off charge. Wycombe’s recent form had seen them looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone and their slide looked set to continue as defensive errors and a ruthless attack from Rovers seemingly put the game out of sight. Yet over the past 18 months, Gareth Ainsworth’s men have shown a remarkable knack of scoring late goals and winning 3-2, and they did just that in what was a thrilling final fifteen minutes.

Wycombe’s hope of ending a barren run that has seen them score just one own goal in three matches were hindered further in the new year when Randell Williams and Fred Onyedinma returned to their parent clubs after their loans expired. As a result, Paris Cowan-Hall was handed a place in the starting eleven as Adam El-Abd and Joe Jacobson were also recalled and Matt Bloomfield also made his first appearance since August. Grant McCann meanwhile made just one change from the team that shocked Preston North End in the F.A. Cup last week as James Coppinger came in for Alfie May.

After a quiet opening, Wycombe registered the first meaningful effort when a short corner routine between Jacobson and Bloomfield saw the ball laid off to Dominic Gape whose shot was deflected over the bar. Four minutes later and Cowan-Hall found himself in space in the area after an excellent move involving Nick Freeman and Jason McCarthy. A cross looked the most likely option, but the former Millwall man went for the top corner, producing a stunning save from Rovers keeper Ian Lawlor. From the resulting corner, Wycombe tried to repeat the aforementioned short routine, but Doncaster were wise to it, intercepted the ball and made a quick break which resulted in Matty Blair going clean through on goal. Gape however had tracked back well and made a vital interception.

Doncaster did then have their first shot on target shortly afterwards as Herbie Kane attempted a volley from the edge of the area after 22 minutes, but Allsop made a smart, comfortable stop. The next twenty minutes saw John Marquis shoot wide for Doncaster, while two headers from El-Abd and a turn and shot from Gape were the sum total of Wycombe’s efforts as the first 45 minutes ended goalless.

The second half initially started brightly for Wycombe as Curtis Thompson worked his way into the area on 49, but he was unable to keep his shot down.

That proved to be a false dawn though as the next ten minutes highlighted Rovers attacking prowess and Wycombe’s defensive frailties. First, Malik Wilks found himself through on goal but Allsop came out and got a hand on the ball. Wilks managed to get a second bite at the cherry, but could only shoot into the side netting. Coppinger then shot wide before Marquis robbed El-Abd on 52 and fed Wilks, but he skewed his shot wide under pressure. The breakthrough eventually came on the hour mark as El-Abd’s pass was intercepted, resulting in Coppinger teeing up Marquis to score his 20th goal of the season. Ten minutes later and it was 2-0. A ball into the far post looked to be heading out of play yet as the Wycombe defence was static, Marquis did well to keep it alive before setting up Tommy Rowe who couldn’t miss.

That prompted a double change from Ainsworth as the formidable figure of Adebayo Akinfenwa came on alongside Scott Kashket in place of Bloomfield and Nathan Tyson. Over five hours of football had now been played since Wycombe had last found the net, so a more direct approach was the thinking. It worked.

With 13 minutes left, Doncaster initially cleared a high ball into the area, but Rowe’s attempt to clear the danger further only resulted in him inadvertently passing to Cowan-Hall who finished brilliantly from just inside the box.

As injury-time approached, Wycombe found an equaliser from an unlikely source. Cowan-Hall knocked the ball to Thompson and the midfielder unleashed a rocket from twenty yards, that left Lawlor with no chance. It caps a remarkable turnaround for Thompson who was initially loaned to Wycombe less than a year ago by then fellow promotion candidates Notts County. His performances for the Chairboys saw him rewarded with an initial six-month contract and his continued excellence in the middle of the park saw that recently extended until 2021. It was the perfect way to celebrate, and his name can comfortably be added to the list of players such as Kashket and Alex Samuel who have found a new lease of life under Ainsworth after being released by sides in the leagues below.

As the teams lined up for the re-start, the fourth official indicated six minutes were to be added on and although most Wycombe fans would have settled for a point, they were celebrating a remarkable winner four minutes later. Jacobson hit a free-kick into the penalty area and as Akinfenwa made a nuisance of himself, the ball found its way to Cowan-Hall who looped a header into the corner of the net.

There was still time left for Doncaster as the six minutes became seven, then eight, and then nine, but Wycombe’s defence stood firm to hang on to the win. The drama didn’t stop with the final whistle though as referee Trevor Kettle handed out yellow cards to Thompson and Rovers Andy Butler following a melee on the pitch. This took the total booking up to nine for the match – a high number for a game that had been full-blooded, competitive and exciting, but hardly dirty.

The result marks the second time in just under three months that Wycombe have won a game from 2-0 down, a feat they hadn’t achieved in nearly seventeen years previously.

Wanderers are now one of five teams on 35 points as they moved up to 13th in the League One table ahead of games against relegation threatened Bristol Rovers and Plymouth Argyle.

Doncaster meanwhile have slipped out of the play-off zone and face Burton Albion next.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS 3 (Cowan-Hall 77, 90+4, Thompson 90)  DONCASTER ROVERS 2 (Marquis 60, Rowe 70)

ATT 4,747 (Away 584)

words Phil Slatter, D3D4 Wycombe Wanderers correspondent