REPORT | Wanderers 2 Wycombe Wanderers 1

Bodvarsson celebration Wycombe

Gethin Jones and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson both scored their first league goals of the season to keep Wanderers snapping at the heels of the top two in the promotion race, writes Pete Oliver.

Jones hadn’t scored in League One since the Whites’ Valentine’s Day massacre of MK Dons 12 months ago.

But this one felt just as sweet as the stand-in captain led by example by heading Wanderers into a first-half lead.

Ian Evatt’s men then had to battle all the way to keep their noses in front but made sure of a vital three points and a first win in three league games when substitute Bodvarsson coolly flicked home a Kyle Dempsey cross in injury time.

Wycombe still managed to pull one back from the penalty spot with virtually the last kick of the game but Wanderers had done enough to earn the victory - and a double over the Chair Boys - that fully restores their momentum still with games in hand to move into the automatic promotion spots.

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Bodvarsson goal Wycombe

With Wanderers unable to overturn George Thomason’s red card from Saturday's second successive drawn game, the midfielder’s omission was one of six changes made to the Whites’ starting line-up.

And back at home, Wanderers looked more like their usual selves once they had overcome another uncertain start.

Joel Coleman’s mis-cued pass almost allowed Wycombe to take the lead but the keeper saved Beryll Lubala’s tame effort and would go on to redeem himself further with another important save before the break.

And by then Wanderers were in front. Some of the Whites’ football was back towards its best, particularly when attacking from wide positions where Josh Dacres-Cogley had one of his best games in a Wanderers' shirt.

Jones pulled the back for an early chance for Paris Maghoma the midfielder couldn’t take, while on the other side Nathanael Ogbeta posed a threat on his full Wanderers’ league debut.

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Jones celebration Wycombe

His pace and delivery stretched Wycombe and when he won a second corner with half an hour gone, the Whites made the breakthrough.

Aaron Morley’s rolled passed allowed Ogbeta to cross and Jones found the space to arch his neck and direct a superb header into the top corner.

It was just what Wanderers needed in their quest to turn recent draws into wins but it was far from a commanding lead as Wycombe – beaten just once in the league since Boxing Day – looked to respond.

Dale Taylor’s weaving run almost produced a high-quality equaliser but Coleman – another making his first league home start for the Whites – stepped up with a fine block before the saving with his feet from ex-Wanderer Kieran Sadlier.

The Whites looked in need of the cushion of a second goal and early in the second half Dion Charles thought he had claimed it but for an off-side flag when the striker looked to have sprung the trap from Eoin Toal’s excellent ball over the top.

Morley then fired a free-kick at Max Stryjek before Charles was forced out of the action and Wycombe also altered their attacking options in a double switch with just over half an hour to go.

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Coleman save Wycombe

It was nip and tuck, although the visitors missed a great chance to level when Taylor again ran at the Wanderers’ defence before dragging an effort wide before Stryjek touched a Maghoma shot over the bar at full stretch as the Whites looked to strike on the break and potentially wrap up the points.

But on a night when winning was everything, Wanderers made sure they would come out on the right side when Bodvarsson earned them some breathing space.

Dempsey delivered the latest in a line of quality balls in from the right-hand side and Bodvarsson did the rest with a lovely touch with his instep to steer the ball just inside the far post.

There was to be no clean sheet for Coleman as he then conceded the spot-kick for a foil of David Wheeler which Luke Leahy converted.

But there was no time for any further late drama as Wanderers made sure they sealed the deal on a night they stood up to be counted.

Wanderers: Coleman; Jones, Toal, Iredale; Morley; Dacres-Cogley (Taylor 87), Maghoma (Mendes Gomes 87), Dempsey, Ogbeta (Ashworth 66); Charles, Collins (Bodvarsson 66). Substitutes: Sheehan, Ramsay.

Booked: Coleman

Wycombe: Stryjek; McCarthy (Lonwijk 70), Low, Tafazolli, Leahy; Potts, Butcher; Campbell (Wheeler 70), Taylor (Kone 83), Sadlier (McCleary 57); Lubala (Vokes 57) . Substitutes: Ravizzoli, Earley, Kone.

Booked: Butcher

Referee: Will Finnie

Attendance: 18,778 (201 away)

Read Time: 4 mins