Wycombe 1 Chester City 0

Apr 20 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

THE Blues slipped to within two points of the League Two drop zone following a narrow defeat at Adams Park yesterday (Saturday, April 19).

Wycombe striker Scott McGleish netted a late winner on a day when victories elsewhere for Mansfield and Wrexham turned up the heat in the battle to beat the drop.

Missed chances either side of McGleish’s goal proved costly for Chester.

The first came in the 49th minute when a cross by James Vaughan from the right was flicked on by John Murphy. The ball fell invitingly for Paul McManus, but the teenage striker’s first touch was poor and he ended up shooting over the bar from eight yards as Wanderers keeper Frank Fielding raced out of his goal.

City’s second gilt-edged scoring opportunity arrived in the 86th minute and fell to Kevin Roberts, who timed his run into the box from Kevin Sandwith’s free kick perfectly. However, Roberts was unable to score from no more than three yards as he volleyed the ball high over the Wycombe crossbar.

Neither keeper had been seriously troubled during a tight first half. Wycombe came closest to scoring through right-back Russell Martin, who sent a fizzing long-range volley just wide of John Danby’s goal.

The second half was a more open contest and Danby had to be alert to push out Delroy Facey’s header, before the same player rattled the frame of the goal with a fierce drive from a tight angle.

Chester left-back Laurence Wilson cleared off the line from Stefan Oaks with 20 minutes to go as the hosts began to show a few glimpses of why they are a top-seven side.

The game’s only goal came 12 minutes from time after Oaks swept a free-kick into the City penalty area. Mike Williamson rose highest and headed down to McGleish, who turned the ball into the net from close range for his 26th goal of the season.

Wycombe: Fielding, Martin, Johnson, Williamson, Woodman, Torres (McCracken 83), Doherty, Holt, Oakes, Facey, McGleish (Sutton 90). Subs Not Used: Palmer, Young, Stockley.

Goals: McGleish 78.

Chester: Danby, J Vaughan, Linwood, Kelly, Wilson, Roberts, Hughes, Sandwith, Rutherford, McManus (Holroyd 68), Murphy. Subs Not Used: Palethorpe, Rule, Grant, Mitchell. Booked: Murphy.

Att: 5,497.

Referee: Steven Cook (Surrey).