All the news stories from September 2018
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WYCOMBE 2 SOUTHEND 3
(Saturday 29th September 2018)
Two late goals could not prevent Wanderers from going down 3-2 to Southend United at Adams Park. The visitors were leading 3-0 before the hour mark but a late rally from Wanderers saw Craig Mackail-Smith net a wonder strike on 83 minutes and Adebayo Akinfenwa convert from close range three minutes later, to set-up a seemingly unlikely close finish.
Defeat to Southend came after Garerth Ainsworth reverted back to the same starting XI that had drew at Portsmouth the previous Saturday. That meant no place in the match-day squad for either Sam Saunders or Alex Samuel, despite starting in the midweek defeat to Norwich City in the League Cup.
The visitors had by far the better of the early exchanges and chances, although Wycombe had a clear opening on 37 minutes but Matt Bloomfield took an extra touch close to goal and the opportunity was lost. A minute later, Southend began to stamp their authority on the game when Theo Robinson ghosted in at the far post to slide the ball home from Tom Hooper's low squared cross from the right.
Southend doubled their lead in the 53rd minute following a disputed free-kick near the half-way line. The visitors knocked the ball out to the left wing where Ben Croker's cross was smashed home from six yards by Hopper, with more questions being asked of the Wanderers defence. It got worse for Wycombe four minutes later when Southend beat Wycombe's flakey offside trap down the right wing and Simon Cox was allowed to run through and best Ryan Allsop at the near post of the Valley End goal.
For the loyal Wycombe fans who stayed to see the closing stages there was reward with a contender for goal of the season when Mackail-Smith sent a left-footed volley from the edge of the box into the top right corner of the Southend net. Then with three minutes of normal time remaining Akinfenwa blasted home from six yards following a similar build-up to Wycombe's first - a long throw from the left-wing by substitute Randell Williams causing problems in the visitor's defence. Akinfenwa and Mackail-Smith both had chances to snatch an equaliser during four minutes of stoppage time but that was a task too far for Wanderers.
The defeat sent Wanderers down to 20th place in the 'League One' table with 8 points from the opening 10 games and only goal difference from the relegation places.
 Final Score: Wycombe 2 Southend 3
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FINANCE DIRECTOR TO STEP DOWN
(Friday 28th September 2018)
A further shake-up behind the scenes at Adams Park was announced on Friday 28th September 2018 with the news that Football Club and Trust Finance Director Mark Burrell would be stepping down from his role as of 8th October 2018. Burrell was elected to the Trust Board in February 2015 and subsequently joined the Football Club Board in June 2015. As an unpaid volunteer he helped oversee three consecutive seasons of profit for the Football Club. However, at a General Meeting of the Trust on 12th September 2018, he revealed that the 2017/18 season would likely see a lost in the region of £693,000 and was part of a Trust Board that was proposing a partial sale of the currently Trust owned Football Club. Burrell commented to the official website: “I have given so much time and effort to work with others to change the Club and make significant progress towards off-field financial survival and stability. However, that work has come at a cost to my business and it is now right for others to take the Group finances and investment opportunities forward. I’m pleased to have played my part in delivering these opportunities at the recent Trust Members meeting and now others will take the plans forward as a team."
Trust meeting 12 September 2018 - COTN archive report
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WYCOMBE 3 NORWICH 4
(Tuesday 25th September 2018)
Wanderers went out of the Football League Cup at the Third Round stage despite a late comeback in a 4-3 home defeat to Norwich City. The Championship side led 4-1 with an hour of the tie played but a penalty and a double substiution for Wanderers just after the hour mark, plus a change of formation almost changed the course of the tie.
Former Huddersfield Town striker Jordan Rhodes scored twice in as many minutes to put the visitors 2-0 up by the 14th minute and despite Paris Cowan-Hall reducing the deficit three minutes later, Tom Trybull headed home just before the break to increase the task for Wanderers. Rhodes, who had scored five times for Huddersfield in a 6-0 victory at Adams Park in April 2012, completed his hat-trick six minutes after the break and at that point in appeared that the Championship would rack up a similar score-line to Rhodes' previous visit.
However, Sam Saunders converted from the spot on 61 minutes, while Michael Harriman and Adebayo Akinfenwa were introduced shortly afterwards to give Wycombe different options. Akinfenwa was credited with the final touch on a close range effort on 75 minutes to make the score 4-3 to City and the closing stages of the game were dominated by Wycombe who went close on several occasions to forcing the tie to what had seemed an unlikely outcome just 30 minutes previous.
Defeat to Norwich came after Gareth Ainsworth made five changes from the side that had drawn at Porstmouth the previous Saturday - Fred Onyedinma (cup-tied), Akinfenwa, Scott Kaskhet, Bryn Morris and Joe Jacobson making way for Nick Freeman, Alex Samuel, Craig Mackail-Smith, Saunders and Cowan-Hall. Attendance v Norwich: 3,947 (1,439 away).
Final Score: Wycombe 3 Norwich 4
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PORTSMOUTH 2 WYCOMBE 2
(Saturday 22nd September 2018)
An 88th penalty by Joe Jacobson saw Wanderers earn a deserved point from a 2-2 draw at league leaders Portsmouth. Bryn Morris had fired Wycombe into a 21st minute lead and the home side were knocked off their stride until a 57th minute headed equaliser from Gareth Evans set-up a frantic finish at Fratton Park. A home crowd of close to 18,000 throught their team had snatched a winner on 86 minutes when substitute Brett Pitman headed past Ryan Allsop. However, two minutes later Christian Burgess barged down Fred Onyedinma from behind and Jacobson cooley struck home the resulting spot-kick in front of the 750 away following for the Wanderers.
Tean news for Wanderers at Fratton Park saw Gareth Ainsworth make three changes from the side that drew with Oxford United the previous weekend - Anthony Stewart (injured), Craig Mackail-Smith and Randell Williams dropping out of the starting XI and being replaced by Scott Kashket, Darius Charles and Adebayo Akinfenwa. The draw moved Wycombe up a place to 18th in the 'League One' table with 8 points from the opening 9 games.
Final Score: Portsmouth 2 Wycombe 2
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WYCOMBE 2 FULHAM 1
(Tuesday 18th September 2018)
A stoppage time goal from Scott Kashket saw Wanderers sneak a 2-1 victory over an impressive looking Fulham U21 side in the second Group stage match of the Football League Trophy. It was a valuable goal - earning Wanderers £10,000 in sponsorship income and a guaranteed place in the regionalised 2nd Round.
Team-news saw Gareth Ainswoth make ten changes from the starting XI that had featured the previous Saturday in the 0-0 draw with Oxford United at Adams Park - Sido Jombati the only Wycombe player keeping his place in the starting line-up. Close-season signing Darius Charles was given his Wycombe debut having recovered from injury.
It was another new signing, Alex Samuel, who gave Wycombe the lead on 2 minutes when he drilled home from Adebayo Akinfenwa's flick-on. Against a very youthful Fulham side, many would have expected Wycombe to cruise to victory from that point on but it was the visitors who would draw level on 54 minutes when Cameron Thompson fired in a long-range shot past Yves Ma-Kalmaby. The game then looked to be heading for a spot-kick decider for a bonus point before a Paris Cowan-Hall backheel set up Kashket to shot home via a deflection and send the hard-core Wycombe fans home happy.
The crowd of 595 (76 away) was the lowest attendance at Adams Park for a competitive First Team game since Wanderers gained promotion to the Football League in 1993.
Final Score: Wycombe 2 Fulham 1 |
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ANDREW HOWARD TO STEP DOWN
(Tuesday 18th September 2018)
The Club announced on Tuesday 18th September 2018 that former Club Chairman Andrew Howard would be stepping down from his role on the Football Club board on 31st October 2018. Howard joined the Wanderers' Board in July 2014 and took over as Chairman shortly afterwards and oversaw a period when the Club recorded profits for consecutive seasons, as well as reaching the 2015 'League Two' Play-Off Final. The now 53 year old Beechdean Ice Cream founder stepped down as Chairman at the end of the 2016/17 campaign but took on the role of 'Sporting Director', where worked alongside Manager Gareth Ainsworth during the promotion winning season of 2017/18. Howard commented: "This is not a sudden decision; it was something I have been considering for some time but it was important that I gave my full support to Gareth and his staff during the summer transfer window to help them build the best possible squad for life in League One." |
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WYCOMBE 0 OXFORD UTD 0
(Saturday 15th September 2018)
There were plenty of chances but no goals as Wanderers played out a 0-0 draw with Oxford United at Adams Park. The result leaves Wycombe and United stuck in 19th and 23rd place in the 'League One' table respectively after eight games played for both clubs.
Team-news saw Wanderers make two changes from the starting XI that had lost 3-2 at Charlton Athletic the previous weekend - Matt Bloomfield and Millwall loanee Fred Onyedinma being favoured over Curtis Thompson and Adebayo Akinfenwa - both who moved to the bench.
The visitors dominated the first-half and were left rueing a number of missed chances and then a spectacular save from Ryan Allsop when the Wycombe 'keeper tipped Ricky Holmes effort onto the cross-bar. Earlier in the game both sides had been rocked by injuries to defenders - Anthony Stewart forced off after appearing to have pulled a hamstring on 7 minutes, while on 15 minutes Cameron Brannagan fell awkwardly after a clash with a team-mate and was also replaced following close to 10 minutes of treatment on the pitch. The latter had come after Randell Williams went close with a diving header for Wycombe but it was rare first-half chance for Wanderers who were grateful to reach the break without conceeding.
The second-period was a more even affair and as the game flowed from end to end, frustration from both sets of players boiled over around the 80 minute mark when Shandon Baptiste's late challenge on Williams as he raced towards goal, sparked a mass-brawl in midfield. Onyedinma then blasted into the side-netting on 82 minutes following a sprint down the left channel, while many Wycombe players and fans alike had thought an Akinfenwa header had won it in stoppage time but they had failed to spot the offside flag raised.
Final Score: Wycombe 0 Oxford United 0
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HOWARD KENNEDY R.I.P.
(Thursday 13th September 2018)
Sad to report the news of a passing of Wanderers legend Howard Kennedy on Wednesday 12th September 2018 at the age of 66 after he lost a brave five year fight with prostate cancer. Kennedy played for Wanderers between 1974 and 1983, making 409 'First Team' appearances and scoring 100 goals. His total appearances for Wanderers in all games was in excess of 500 and close to 150 goals. He later played and managed Slough Town.
Signed by Brian Lee during the summer of 1974, in his debut season, Kennedy was a member of the Wanderers squad that famously reached the Third Round of the FA Cup in January 1975 - drawing at home to then joint 'First Division' leaders Middlesbrough, before losing narrowly in the replay at Ayresome Park. Consolation was to come in an Isthmian League Championship medal at the end of the 1975/75 campaign. Other highlights for Kennedy were the 1981/82 season where he will be remembered for scoring a thundering late free-kick to secure victory in a 2nd Round FA Trophy with Hyde United at Loakes Park. Sadly the FA Trophy run would end in defeat at the Semi-Final stage against Altrincham. However, he remained a regular for Wanderers the following season (his ninth at the Club) and picked up another Isthmian League Champions medal under the managership of Mike Keen.
Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time. Wycombe Wanderers Ex-Players Association Vice-Chairman, John D Taylor, has written a tribute via the link shown - Howard Kennedy tribute by John D.Taylor
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TRUST LOOK FOR INVESTORS
(Wednesday 12th September 2018)
Wycombe Wanderers Trust members heard at a General Meeting on Wednesday 12th September 2018 that the Trust Board have been investigating options for bringing outside investment into the Football Club in order to reduce the risk associated with cash-flow problems throughout the season and help fix what was described as an ‘unstainable’ financial situation.
Trust proposals - COTN special report
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CHARLTON 3 WYCOMBE 2
(Saturday 8th September 2018)
Wanderers lost 3-2 at
Charlton Athletic having taken an early lead through Randell Williams. The home side were only given a lifeline back into the game via an own-goal just after the half-hour mark but two goals in nine second-half minutes left Wanderers reeling and despite a late goal from Paris Cowan-Hall, Gareth Ainsworth's side left with nothing from the visit to South London.
Watford Williams loanee netted on 7 minutes when he curling in an effort from the right corner of the penalty area and into opposite corner of the Charlton net. Wycombe were firmly in control at this stage but The Addicks were given a way back into the game on 32 minutes when Sido Jombati sliced Lewis Page's cross from the left past Ryan Allsop in the Wycombe goal to level the scores. Wanderers had another decent spell in the second period with a Bryn Morris mis-queue on 62 minutes from a Williams cross from the left, being a chance that Wycombe would look back on with frustration.
On 71 minutes Wanderers would get caught again down the left wing, Grant sending the ball low across the face of the goal, for Patrick Bauer to return and Lyle Taylor to net from a close range at the far post. The score-line got harsher for Wycombe on 80 minutes when moments after Paris Cowan-Hall had replaced Adebayo Akinfenwa, a Charlton free-kick from the right of midfield by Ben Reeves found its way through the to Naby Sarr who netted from six yards. Cowan-Hall pulled a goal back for Wanderers in the 90th minute when he headed home at the near post from Joe Jacobson's corner from the left but despite seven minutes of added time, the home side held out for a win in Lee Bowyer's first game as permanent boss at The Valley.
Defeat came after Gareth Ainsworth made ten changes from the starting XI that had beaten Northampton the previous Tuedsay in the Football League Trophy but just one change from the League meeting with Luton the previous Saturday - Matt Bloomfield sitting out due to 'seven-day protocol after sustaining concussion' and replaced by Curtis Thompson. The result left Wanderers 18th in the table with six points from their opening seven games.
Final Score: Charlton 3 Wycombe 2
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NORTHAMPTON 0 WYCOMBE 1
(Tuesday 4th September 2018)
A spectacular strike from Scott Kashket saw Wanderers beat Northampton Town 1-0 at Sixfields and get their 2018/19 Football League Trophy campaign off to a winning start. The group stage victory came after Gareth Ainsworth made ten changes to the side that had drew with Luton Town at Adams Park the previous Saturday - Anthony Stewart the only player to retain his starting position.
The winning goal came after loanee Fred Onyedinma threaded the ball through from the right channel to Kashket the prolfic scorer, with his back to goal on the edge of the D, turning and striking the ball left footed into the top right corner of the home goal.
Wycombe had the better chances to add to scoreline before the break and Kashket also went close again during the second-period. The closest the home side came to equalising was a late effort from former Wanderers loannee Dean Bowdith but Curtis Thompson was in the right place to clear off the line.
Wanderers included new loanee signing Charlie Fox in the starting XI for his competitive Wycombe debut and also his first ever Senior game for any Club. Newly signed goalkeeper Cameron Yates was also named on the bench for his first inclusion in a Wanderers matchday squad. Marcus Bean's appearance as substitute was his 500th at senior level for all clubs.
Wycombe receive £10,000 in sponsorship money for the victory at Northampton and continue the group stages of the competition with home games against Fulham U21 (Tuesday 18th September) and Oxford United (Tuesday 6th November).
Final Score: Northampton 0 Wycombe 1 |
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'KEEPER No.3 SIGNED
(Monday 3rd September 2018)
Wanderers added additional goalkeeping cover on Monday (3rd September 2018) with the signing of 19-year-old Cameron Yates for the remainder of the 2018/19 season. The Scotish born player joins Wanderers after time with the Leicester City youth academy and a short short trial at Adams Park. He was allocated No.13 in the Wycombe squad. |
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WYCOMBE 1 LUTON 1
(Saturday 1st September 2018)
Wycombe had to settle for a point from a 1-1 draw with Luton Town at Adams Park in a tale of two penalties. Joe Jacobson put Wanderers ahead in the 15th minute after converting a penalty following a foul on Matt Bloomfield. However, Jacobson wasted the chance to double the lead just after the hour mark following a handball in the area by Glen Rea - putting the resulting spot-kick to the same side as his first kick but this time seeing Hatters 'keeper James Shea save. Six minutes later Ryan Allsop failed to hold a cross from the left and Matty Pearson headed home to level the scores. Both sides had numerous chances to seal victory, with Luton having the clearer openers but seeing Allsop make up for his earlier lapse by making crucial saves. This was the 14th consesuctive occasion that Wycombe had failed to beat Luton at Adams Park - with the all-time record now reading 7 defeats and 7 draws in League and Cup since the first meeting in September 1996 - 22 years!
Team news saw one change from Wanderers' previous League game (away to Bradford) - Adebayo Akinfenwa replacing Michael Harriman. New loannee Fred Onyedinma was named on the bench and entered the action at 70 minutes. The result saw Wanderers move up to 16th in the table.
Final Score: Wycombe 1 Luton 1
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