Wycombe continued their incredible unbeaten run by snatching a late winner from Luke Leahy. In a hard fought game against Mansfield Town, it looked more likely that the game was heading for a draw. And up until Leahy’s fortunate effort, it wouldn’t have been a disappointing result given how equally balanced the game was. In the opening stages, both sides countered each other but really struggled to create clear cut opportunities. The Chairboys persevered and eventually got their breaks. Garath McCleary combined with Richard Kone to create the first chance as Kone looked to race on and get a shot on goal, but the ever present Aiden Flint threw himself to deny Kone and divert the ball for a corner. And centre back Flint had to be alert to the threat of Kone as another loose ball found Kone who looked favourite to race into the box only for Flint once again deny him the opportunity.
Kone was a menace for Flint and the Mansfield defence as five minutes later, he again latched onto some intricate build up play that allowed him to run onto a flick on. However his dummies brought time for the Stags defence and they managed to block his eventual shot on goal. Minutes later, we saw the best action from Wycombe, as a passing move from left to right through a combination of one touch football allowed Garath McCleary to run onto a flick from Kone before firing a low cross into the path of Fred Onyedinma. Much to the frustration of Onyedinma however, the Mansfield defenders denied him the space to unleash a clear shot on goal. But Mansfield then created a nervous moment for the Chairboys as they quickly countered into the Wycombe half and Will Evans controlled a cross into the path of Hiram Boateng, who sailed his shot slightly wide of Franco Ravizzoli’s goal. And this seemed to buoy the Stags who grew in confidence. After a series of corners, Jasper Pattenden then stepped in and blocked a cross that could have easily been tucked into the Blues net. But Wycombe created the last clear cut moment of the half, as Richard Kone latched onto a loose ball and his turn almost looked to put him through into the box but Baily Cargill pulled a tactical foul and earned a yellow card for his efforts.
At half time, Wycombe appeared to edge the game and took this momentum into the second half as McCleary and Kone once again combined on the right hand side before McCleary’s low cross into the box earned a corner. The subsequent corner was punched clear by Mansfield’s goalkeeper Christy Pym. However there after, the game started to drift from the Chairboys as we saw a very stop start game take place. With both sides frustrating each other, Mansfield then looked the most threatening. Joe Low was left flat footed by Lucas Akins and brought him down for a free kick award 30 yards from the Wycombe goal. Low earning himself a yellow card in the process. Much to the relief of the Chairboys faithful, Elliot Hewitt hit his effort at a comfortable height for Ravizzoli. Then Stags substitute Ben Waine broke through on a counter attack minutes later but thankfully, he dragged his effort wide of the Chairboys goal.
With the game entering the last five minutes, Cameron Humphreys imposed himself by superbly crossing from the bylines and saw it flicked on by Luke Leahy into the path of substitute Bez Lubala, but despite the ball being cleared it was adjudged to be a free kick for Mansfield. As the game entered the 90 minute stage, both teams took turns in creating some last drama. First Mansfield’s Waine was brought down by Caleb Taylor which drew a free kick near the bylines. This turned into a corner for the Stags who weren’t able to make the most of the set plays. And then it was Wycombe’s turn, after substitute Brandon Hanlan won a throw in deep in the Mansfield half, Dan Harvie prepared a long deep throw in, only to deceive the Mansfield team and create a quick short routine which drew a cross into the box. This was initially cleared before Harvie once again prepared to build an attack down the Wycombe left. With 92 minutes on the clock, the ball ricocheted a few times and into the direction of Luke Leahy whose cross come shot went over a despairing Christy Pym and score the eventual winner for Wycombe. With wild celebrations taking place at Adams Park for the fortuitous effort, Wycombe saw out the remaining minutes and maintain their unbeaten run which also made it ten straight wins in a row. Wycombe will now take a break from the league as they entertain Wealdstone on Saturday in the second round of the FA Cup.
