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Peterborough 1 |
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Wycombe Wanderers 1 |
Saturday 8th May 2004
Football League Division Two |
Wanderers concluded their ten year spell in the Second Division with a last gasp draw at Peterborough United.
In a game that lived up to its 'virtually meaningless' billing it was a 64th minute wonder strike from Curtis Woodhouse that finally broke the deadlock and gave the home side the lead. However, urged on for the entire 90 minutes by a 500 strong following from Wycombe, it was Nathan Tyson who popped up deep into stoppage time to smash home after Steve Brown pushed a free-kick across to Andy Reilly on the right of midfield and the delivery had been nodded on by Roger Johnson. There wasn't even time for Peterborough to re-start the game.
Tony Adams made two changes to the Wycombe line-up for this closing day encounter. Andy Reilly came in at left back for Chris Vinnicombe and Charlie Mapes replaced Dannie Bulman in midfield. Steve Brown was Captain again due to the absence of Michael Simpson through injury. 'Simo' says the injury is not serious and is confident that he will be fit for the start of pre-season training, wherever that may be.
This was really the defintive game of 'limited chances for either side'. There really was little note inside the first hour of the game, Danny Senda going closest for Wycombe in the first with a looping shot and then seeing a free-kick blocked six minutes into the second period. Woodhouse's opener on 64 minutes was a great strike after a cross from the left was headed into the path of Posh's Player of the Season by Roger Johnson.
Tyson's goal in stoppage time his ninth goal in the 21 appearances since he joined from Reading at the turn of the year. Wanderers followers will now be hoping that he can carry that form over into the Third Division when he form part of an entirely different looking Wycombe squad.
Amazingly several hundred of the Wycombe following stayed behind for a full 30 minutes after the final whistle, chanting and demanding to see the players and in particular Steve Brown. It was Brownie's final competitive appearance in a Wycombe shirt and there were emotional scenes as he went up to the fans to acknowledge their support and say his farewells.
Final Score Peterborough 1 Wycombe 1
Speaking after the game to BBC Three Counties Radio, Tony Adams thought his side had performed OK in defensive apart from the goal, commenting "Mark Philo was a little bit sloppy but the lad's had a wonder strike and scored so that was a bit disappointing but defensively I thought it was OK. Offensively in the second-half I don't think we were effective and we didn't cause them enough problems but once again Nathan has popped up again and scored. If you are restricting teams to long range shots then fair enough." Adams paid tribute to Brown, commenting "Steve Brown deserves the success. He's had a fantastic career and I can identify with those type of players." Adams also praised the support from the loyal travelling fans, adding "If they do this and we go down then what is it going to be like when we actually win something next year?"
Wycombe: Henderson, Simpemba (sub 75 Hole), Reilly, Johnson, Nethercott, Bloomfield, Mapes (sub 68 Dixon), Brown, Senda, Tyson, Philo - subs not used Bulman, Vinnicombe, Currie
Bookings: Tyson (ungentlemanly conduct 69)
Scorer: Tyson (90) |
Peterborough: Tyler, St Ledger, Burton, Branston (sub 57 Arber), Newton, Semple, Legg, Woodhouse (sub 71 Thomson), Williams, Farrell (sub 63 Andy Clarke), Willock -
subs not used: Gill, Logan
Bookings: none
Scorer: Woodhouse (64) |
| Referee: Carl Boyeson |
Attendance: 6,398 (away 464) |
Elsewhere on the final day in Division Two, Rushden and Grimsby joined Wycombe and Notts County as the sides relegated to Division Three after they both lost their final games while Chesterfield and Brentford won. At the top, QPR ensured automatic promotion along with Plymouth after they won 3-1 at Sheffield Wednesday. Bristol City, Brighton, Swindon Town and Hartlepool will contest the play-offs. In Division Three, Torquay United joined already promoted Doncaster and Hull City with one other to follow from play-off contenders Huddersfield, Mansfield, Northampton and Lincoln.
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