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Rochdale 1 |
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Wycombe Wanderers 2 |
Tuesday 9th August 2005
Football League 'League Two' |
 First half goals from Mike Williamson and Matt Bloomfield set Wycombe on their way to a 2-1 victory at Rochdale in the second game of the 2005/6 season. Williamson converted a Stefan Oakes cross in the 7th minute, while Bloomfield headed home Kevin Betsy's delivery on 23 minutes to put Wanderers in the driving seat. There was a late scare after Williamson conceded a penalty in the 78th minute and Gary Jones converted but Wycombe held on to be deserved winners and end a ten month unbeaten home run for the home side.
John Gorman made one change to the side that had drawn 1-1 with Carlisle the previous Saturday - Bloomfield replacing Rob Lee who dropped to the bench. Still absent were injury victims Will Antwi, Charlie Griffin, Mark Philo and Keith Ryan, leaving Gorman with a squad of just eighteen fit players for this first away trip of the new campaign.
Wanderers got off to a flying start with Stefan Oakes firing a few inches over on 5 minutes before Oakes delivered a free-kick from the right two minutes later for Williamson to force home as the Rochdale defence were left wanting.
The home side responded with Grant Holt forcing a good save from Frank Talia on 18 minutes, while Jonathan Boardman hit the crossbar with a header moments. But it was Wycombe who doubled their lead on 23 minutes when Kevin Betsy's delivery from the right was headed home from close range by Bloomfield. And it was Wycombe who finished the half on top - Williamson seeing a header cleared off the line during stoppage time.
As expected Rochdale came out strongly at the start of the second-half with Grant the dangerman again. But Wycombe survived and after Burnell had been replaced, the former Bristol City seemingly suffering from a back problem, it was Wanderers who rallied again. Substitute Ian Stonebridge and Bloomfield both going close to making it 3-0.
The late nerves came after a clumsy challenge by Williamson on Blair Sturrock. Jones placed the spot kick past Talia and Wanderers were left to sweat out the final 12 minutes plus 4 minutes of stoppage time. Again it was Holt who caused the problems, firing wide with 2 minutes remaining and then attempting an overhead kick during added time. But Wycombe hung on to record their tenth away League victory in twelve months.
Final Score - Rochdale 1 Wycombe 2
Wycombe: Talia, Senda, Easton, Williamson, Johnson, Betsy, Bloomfield, Oakes, Burnell (sub 52 Stonebridge), Tyson (sub 86 Dixon), Mooney - subs not used: Lee, Williams, Nethercott
Bookings: Tyson (foul 52)
Scorers: Williamson (7), Bloomfield (20) |
Rochdale: Gilks, Clarke, Griffiths, Boardman, Gallimore, Cartwright, Brisco (sub 75 Warner), Jones, Jaszczun (sub 65 Goodall), Lambert (sub 65 Sturrock), Holt - subs not used: Woodhall, McArdle
Bookings: Holt (foul 80)
Scorers: Jones (79,pen) |
| Referee: J Robinson |
Attendance: 2,755 (away end 155) |
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