Wycombe 1-0 Brentford

Wycombe won 1-0 at Adams Park today in the live Sky Sports game against 10-man Brentford thanks to Jermaine Easter’s second penalty of the season.

It was a lively game from start to finish and both sides having chances. Steve Claridge even commented a couple of hours after watching the game that he could ‘watch a game like this all day’. In truth it was an encouraging advert for League 2 football.

Jamie Young started in goal and he was needed early on, a shot across the goal from Ricky Shakes was palmed away well by the Aussie born stopper.

Easter had a great chance for Wycombe soon after after he was sent through by Martin Bullock but his tame shot was saved by Brentford keeper Ben Hamer.

Easter was again denied minutes later with a miss that made the fans think it really wasn’t going to be Wycombe’s day. A goal bound Leon Johnson header was controlled well by the Welshman but his shot agonisingly struck the underside of the crossbar before rebounding awkwardly to Scott McGleish who skewed his header wide.

Brentford however, then nearly took the lead; an inswinging corner by Glen Poole was headed against the bar by defender Karleigh Osbourne before Young commandingly claimed, removing any chance of a rebound.

Wycombe exerted far more control on the second half with Easter nearly connecting with a Bloomfield cross and McGleish firing over from 18 yards out. The game then had it’s first controversial incident, Sammy Moore was giving his second yellow for a dive after 75 minutes an offence that the referee said he ‘had been warned about’. This decision was called ‘a joke’ by Brentford manager Terry Butcher and chairman Greg Dyke.

Wycombe then got their slice of luck, Martin Bullock surged into the area on the right handside and after being bundled over from behind by Grant Basey and referee Mr Hall had no hesitation and pointed to the spot. Easter then stepped up commandingly and placed the ball to the keepers’ left and a vociferous celebration followed in front of the Valley Terrace.

Wycombe then hung on, Osbourne fired at Young from 30 yards and in truth it was Wycombe who could have grabbed another goal with Torres and Easter both missing the target.

So, a 1-0 win it is. Being 4 points off the lead without getting out of second gear shows there is hope for the rest of the season and hopefully the mini crisis at the start of the season is well and truly over.