Wycombe Wanderers 1 Mansfield Town 0

Last updated : 01 September 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Paul Lambert's Wycombe side extended their unbeaten run to three games with a 1-0 win against Mansfield in an absorbing encounter at Adams Park.

The Stags who have not won in four games will be left ruing a host of missed chances after hitting the woodwork twice in the second half.

Wycombe had the better of the opening stages and created the first chance in the 10th minute when Chris Palmer delivered a free kick to the back post. Michael Williamson rose above the Stags defence but could only find the keeper from six yards.

Wycombe suffered a setback in the 13th minute when Palmer came off with a suspected dislocated shoulder. He had been a constant menace down the left flank.

However, right-back Johnny Mullins' relief was short-lived. When replacement Scott Golbourne entered the field, his first action was to find the defender's neck with a stud high challenge.

Tommy Mooney twice went close in the first half when he headed over from a superb Anthony Grant cross in the 18th minute and then fired wide when Mansfield failed to clear a Sergio Raul Torres corner.

Mansfield finished the stronger and could have scored twice but for smart saves from Jamie Young.

Stephen Dawson cut inside and forced Young into a low save to his left hand side from 25 yards. He then saved brilliantly to deny Simon Brown, the striker combined with Richard Barker and fired from inside the box.

The second half was far more open, as Stags boss Peter Shirtliff's half time words clearly had a desire affect on the team.

Brown hit the bar from 25 yards on 55 minutes when Williamson misjudged Carl Muggleton's clearance allowing Brown to burst clear. And his effort had beaten Young before he had a chance to react.

Wycombe's response was to score the game's only game on 58 minutes.

Mooney, crossed to the back post finding Grant, whose effort was saved at point-blank range. Jermaine Easter reacted quickest, finding the net from two yards to notch his fifth league goal of the season.

Barker then hit the bar on 60 minutes. Matt Hamshaw did well to get down the right and get his cross in and Barker's header from 10 yards was brilliantly pushed onto the bar by Young.

The closing stages were end to end but neither side could find the finishing touch.