Wycombe Wanderers extended their unbeaten run and maintained top spot after a 3-2 victory over Lincoln City. With former Chairboys boss Gareth Ainsworth securing a 3-2 win over Birmingham City in his first game for Shrewsbury Town, all eyes were on the Chairboys to see if they could take advantage at Sincil Bank. And initially it seemed like Wycombe were struggling to get to grips with the physicality that Lincoln applied. In a very scrappy start to the game, Lincoln looked the most likely to score. As Wycombe struggled to clear their lines, Franco Ravizzoli struggled to get his ball past Ben House who’s block deflected the ball into the path of Jack Moylan. Thankfully to spare the blushes of Ravizzoli, Moylan failed to connect with a strike and fluffed the ball wide. But minutes later, Lincoln did take the lead. After a passing move which saw a build up of pressure down the Wycombe left hand side, Tendayi Darikwa found himself deep in the Chairboys box and subsequently connected with Ben House’s low cross to give the Imps the lead. Despite the setback, Wycombe composed themselves more into the game and a free kick move almost gained an equaliser. A cleverly manoeuvred free kick by Luke Leahy deceived the Lincoln team and allowed Cameron Humphreys to take a long distance shot on the Lincoln goal. However Lincoln’s goalkeeper George Wickens was wise to his efforts and tipped it over for a corner.
And it wouldn’t take much longer for the Chairboys pressure to count. Initially a good passing move allowed Humphreys to float a cross at the back post to an unmarked Richard Kone. Kone superbly controlled before firing an equaliser for Wycombe. And Wycombe looked the team in control there after. With passing moves starting to stretch the Lincoln team, they then took the lead in the game as a move started by Caleb Taylor was progressed from the right hand side to the left in seconds. The quick fire move reached a galloping Dan Harvie who progressed into the Lincoln box before slotting Fred Onyedinma to fire a second goal. It was a fantastic move that really shell shocked Lincoln. And Wycombe saw out the remaining few minutes of the first half as Lincoln seeked the half time whistle. But from the start of the second half, Lincoln came out with a lot more tenacity to bring themselves level. Dylan Duffy applied the early warning signs as he picked up a loose ball around 30 yards from goal and saw his effort hit the Wycombe cross bar. Moments later, some direct pressure down the Lincoln right saw a cross by Ethan Erhahlon meet Ben House. With House’s effort looking likely to hit the back of the net, Franco Ravizzoli stood firm and denied Lincoln an equaliser. But Wycombe grew into the half and looked to counter attack, and one break found Fred Onyedinma. Oyedinma’s run found himself deep into the Lincoln box before drawing a foul from Duffy. Referee Seb Stockbridge pointed to the spot to give Wycombe the opportunity of extending the lead. However Luke Leahy saw his effort saved by Wickens to provide the Imps a glimmer of hope.
And Leahy almost made amends directly after, as another corner routine saw his effort strike the Lincoln post. But 7 minutes later, Wycombe would go on to extend the lead. After some great wing play by Jasper Pattenden gaining a corner for the Chairboys, the corner was cleared to substitute Gareth McCleary, who quickly crossed towards the back post for a pouncing Joe Low who put Wycombe 3-1 up. And there after, Wycombe had further opportunities to extend the lead further. First, Leahy found McCleary who looked to dink a ball past a chasing Wickens to the ball but Wickens wiped McCleary for a foul outside the box and gaining a yellow card in the process. And six minutes later, Dan Udoh chased down a ball before providing Richard Kone an almost perfect assist for McCleary. But McCleary over hit his effort as it climbed the roof of the stand behind the Lincoln goal. With time quickly evaporating, Michael Skubala rang the changes for Lincoln and with five minutes of normal time left on the clock, the Imps gained a corner. The initial corner was cleared and bounced towards the edge of the box where Darikwa lurched and rifled an unstoppable effort into the roof of Ravizzoli’s net and reducing the arrears. But even with five minutes of added time, Wycombe saw out the game and earned Wycombe their first win at Sincil Bank since 2011. More importantly, the Chairboys find themselves four points clear of second placed Wrexham with a game in hand. Wycombe will now look at extending the unbeaten run on Tuesday night as they face Mansfield Town at Adams Park.
