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| 1995-1996-RESULTS, SCORERS, ATTENDANCES - MORE REPORTS | 1995-1996 RETRO INDEX |
Wycombe Wanderers 1Peterborough United 1 Saturday 9th September 1995 Football League Division Two Chuck Moussaddik made a rare Wycombe First Team appearance and his Football League debut as Wanderers drew 1-1 with Peterborough United at Adams Park. Moussaddik was playing because of suspension to Paul Hyde who ended a run of 121 consecutive First Team appearances for Wycombe due to a one match suspension for the red card he picked up in the League Cup tie at Leyton Orient. Wanderers 4-0 victory at Bradford the previous Saturday perked up the terrace atmosphere and it looked like another good day for Wycombe when Simon Garner opened the scoring on 16 minutes. However, a Wycombe side missing three players through suspensions eventually succumed to a Posh equaliser in the second-half and had to settle for a point. Reporting for the Bucks Free Press, Claire Nash wrote: 'Suspensions and injury took their toll on Wycombe Wanderers with Saturday’s Division Two encounter with Peterborough fizzling out into a draw. After the previous weeks of high-octane action, Saturday’s match was a distinctly hum-drum affair. Wycombe — with midfielder Steve Brown, goalkeeper Paul Hyde and full back Paul Hardyman serving bans and Jason Cousins - still recovering from injury — struggled to press home their advantage after taking an early lead through Simon Garner. It was only after horrendous defending allowed Peterborough to equalise late on that an essence of verve entered their play once again. Wycombe clearly missed Brown’s creative influence in midfield and will do so for two further games. The game was notable for a lionhearted performance by Blues’ perennial substitute goalkeeper Chuck Moussaddik. The Moroccan international was on tenterhooks until Friday morning as to whether he would be picked with various alternatives, including Stoke’s Mark Prudhoe, having been on the scene. But ever-cheerful Chuck got his chance. Although scared rigid by anything flung at him in the air, he ultimately didn’t let anyone down. A superb one-handed tip over stopped Peterborough taking the lead late in the game. But, despite being blameless for the visitor’s goal, the sponsor’s man of the match berated himself for not finishing with a clean sheet, “I was disappointed with that. It spoilt things a bit,” he said. Moussaddik was cheered every step of the way by the Adams Park faithful who greeted his every touch with a roar. “The fans were brilliant today. Funnily enough I wasn’t nervous before the game. But when you get a welcome like that and everyone gets behind you, it helps your confidence a lot." Moussaddik’s main aim though was to prove to Smith that he was a reliable understudy to Hyde who returns for tonight clash against Chesterfield. The Blues boss said: “All credit to Chuck, he made a very good save. All in all the lads did well.” Smith, though, was not happy in some respects, particularly with the Peterborough goal coming courtesy of Mark Foran’s misjudgement of a punt upheld. It gave Sean Farrell room to run on and pick his spot. At the other end goal-gobbling Miquel Desouza was a subdued force. Tightly-marked as the striker was, there was a dearth of initiative to take things on, something which the team as a whole were a bit short on. The early exchanges proved fruitful, however. Blues had to be alert in the opening minutes when Peterborough peppered their 18-yard box with a few high balls. But Wycombe responded well with Stewart Castledine having two headers go just wide of the post. Their goal came after a goal-mouth scramble forced a corner. Peterborough goalkeeper Jon Sheffield scooped out Simon Garner’s header from Bell’s cross. But the 16th-minute effort was adjudged to have gone over the line. Castledine was unlucky to have a couple more efforts denied, one being cleared off the line on 28 minutes. Wanderers lapsed into wayward tendencies after the break, with chances few and far between. Bell fired over after a good run on 62 minute, while Desouza was denied by neat tackling by Peteborough centre half Gary Breen. The visitors had little-to offer in reply, although goalscorer Sean Farrell remained alert to any chance. He needed no invitation to make the most of Blues’ helping hand when leaden defending gave him a free run on goal. Moussaddik produced a fine one-handed save to push over Marcus Ebdon’s well-struck shot on 84 minutes. Wycombe pepped up in the dying moments with Dave Carroll unlucky not to hit the mark with a good effort. Overall it was nothing to write home about, a make-do result with undesirable circumstances on the outset. When absent key players return, however, expectations will demand more.'
 Speaking after the game Manager Alan Smith said: "“I’m just pleased we got something out it. That’s the best way I can look at it. For a club like this, with a limited squad, I cannot afford to have three players suspended and be without the likes of Jason Cousins and Keith Ryan who are still working their way back. I’m just buying time at the moment until all these players are back in the side. It’s disappointing we didn’t win today, but on the other hand if you look at the players who will be coming back, and I want to bring in a couple of new faces as well, the picture starts to look a bit better." |
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