Match Reports

Wycombe come from behind to beat Barnsley

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Richard Kone snatched a late winner into added time as Wycombe came from behind to beat ten men Barnsley.  

Wycombe knew the importance of tonight’s match as Sam Grace rested the likes of Richard Kone on Saturday against Northampton. Jack Grimmer also returned to the fold as did Tyreq Bakinson, Dan Udoh, Fred Onyedinema and Declan Skura. Grace’s hands were also forced with Dan Harvie remaining sidelined after an injury he picked up against the Cobblers whilst Joe Low also missed the game through injury. The game started relatively controlled as both teams showed their intention to play expansive football. Cameron Humphreys almost combined with Dan Udoh to score the opener. His dinked ball into the path of Udoh was hustled with Barnsley’s Donovan Pines and Udoh got the better of the Tykes defender. But upon unleashing an effort, Udoh’s shot rose into the away end stand. Moments later though, Barnsley took the advantage by scoring the opener. A good build up move from the Tykes saw a cross Georgie Gent cleared by Declan Skura. But the clearannce reached the feet of Jonathan Russell who unleashed a shot which deflected off Skura and past Franco Ravizzoli.

Wycombe reacted positively and through Cameron Hunphreys industrious running and clever passing almost pulled themselves back into the game. He reacted quickest to Richard Kone’s running down the left hand side before being tied off, only for Tykes keeper Ben Killip to save his effort. Then Humphreys once again combined with Udoh. From a deeper right back position, he released Udoh who got the better of Killip but saw his effort then tipped out for a corner. And from the subsequent corner, Luke Leahy saw his curling effort tipped away by Killip as it had the hallmarks of a Joe Jacobson routine. One last key moment of the first half fell once more to Leahy. This time a great move down the left handside from Kone found Leahy with a cross and his header had to be clawed back by Killip.

At the half time mark, Barnsley looked content despite the heavy onslaught from the Chairboys. And the encouraging signs for the Blues was that this is a marked improvement compared to Saturday’s game against Northampton. The second half however indicated that the exchange would be far more open. Barnsley started brightly and quite possibly should have done better from an array of set pieces. First Mark Roberts couldn’t keep his shot down from a corner as his shot was rising into the back of the away stand. Moments later, Josh Earl would then see his touch deceive him as a clever free kick routine was completely miscued. Much to the relief of the Chairboys though, it was Wycombe’s turn to take the game to the Tykes.

A run down the right hand side by Jack Grimmer saw him combine with Kone, who subsquently released Fred Onyedinema. Oyedinema then set up a waiting Cameron Humphreys near the penalty spot area only to see his half volley blocked by the resolute Killip in the Barnsley goal. However the perseverance was to be rewarded and Wycombe got back into the match. A quick throw in routine by Kone released the menacing Onyedinema who was manhandled between Barnsley’s Donovan Hines and Luca Connell in the penalty area. Referee Darren Drysdale had no choice but to award a penalty to Wycombe. Despite much deliberation from Barnsley, Kone dispatched the penalty to bring Wycombe level. The momentum turned and things were about to get more promising in maybe a slightly fortuitous manner. From the resultant kick off, Wycombe managed to retain the ball and pressured Barnsley down the left handside with Richard Kone being tackled slightly recklessly by Mark Roberts. And Referee Drysdale saw the challenge that way as he sent off Roberts, much to the amusement of him and his Barnsley team mates.

With 22 minutes left on the clock, it would have been easy for Barnsley to have stuck ten men behind the ball and attempt to gain a point. But Barnsley continued to hustle and some tired Chairboys defending almost allowed Barnsley to sneak a winner. Clever running and hold up play by Stephen Humphreys released Corey O’Keffe who’s cross met Adam Phillips. With the ball just requiring a placement into Franco Ravizzoli’s net, Phillips went for power and completely misplaced his effort. And minutes later, a loose ball in the middle of the park was picked up by Luca Connell who saw Ravizzoli off his line and he attempted to chip the Argentine goalkeeper. To the relief of him and the Chairboys fanbase, Connell’s effort was slightly overhit. But with eight minutes of added time, Wycombe looked to stretch the game on the counter attack and they got their break. Garath McCleary got the better of a diving Josh Earl near the halfway line, which allowed him space and time down the right hand side before he crossed into the box for the waiting Richard Kone.

Leaping like the proverbial salmon, Kone headed home to win the game for the Chairboys. Wycombe saw out the last few minutes to the frustrations of the Barnsley team. And what made the evening even more sweeter were the results elsewhere. With Wrexham and Huddersfield both losing home games, The win maintains Wycombe secdond in the league and two points behind table topping Birmingham City. However more importantly, The Chairboys find themseleves six points ahead of Wrexham, who are third and ten points ahead of Huddersfield, who lie in forth.

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