Wanders move forwards

Monday, 30/05/2011

by Phil Slatter, Shoot's Wycombe blogger

In 2009, Wycombe were promoted to League One. It was their first promotion in 15 years and their first-ever automatic promotion in the Football League.

Yet it was an anti-climax. Needing just a point against Notts Couty on the final day, the Blues fell to a 90th minute winner but clinched promotion via a better goal difference of just one.

Fans were pleased, but not ecstatic. It was a hollow victory, based on a negative style of football and a team patched up with loan signings and senior journeymen. Wycombe drank champagne that day, but it was flat.

Two years later and the Blues have laid to rest the ghosts of that anti-climactic victory. Manager Gary Waddock had overhauled Wycombe's style of play, opting for more passing and attacking than his predecessors. He has stopped using loan signings and built a squad of players who seem to have genuine passion and are genuinely proud to pull on the famous quarters.

If all footballers were like Gareth Ainsworth and Nikki Bull, the public's perception of them would be very different.

And this year, there was no weak finish. Wanderers ended the season with a ten-game unbeaten run and three straight victories, culminating in a 3-1 win against Southend on the final day. When the Shrimpers took the lead that day, it felt like deja vu all over again but Wycombe's character shone through. It was character and belief in the run-in that helped them pick up vital wins against Bury, Stockport and Morecambe and come back from 2-0 down to seal a point. Twice. In one week.

Much has been made of the Blues 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury in March, or to be more precise, Wycombe's equalising goal in that game. Replays showed clearly that Gareth Ainsworth's 51st minute header had not crossed the line. Had that goal not been given and then the rest of the game and the rest of the season played out in exactly the same way, Shrewsbury would have finished third instead.

Yet Wycombe could equally argue that the two penalties they should have been awarded away to Bradford had the opposite effect on them. On top of that, Wycombe's final defeat of the season was a 1-0 reversal against Stevenage. The goal that day was scored by John Mousinho, who earlier in that game had only seen yellow for a two-footed, knee high tackle from behind that put Stuart Lewis out of action for a fortnight.

This is all in the past now though and Wycombe are looking forward. The club are eager to ensure that last season's disastrous campaign is not repeated. It doesn't look likely.

Gary Waddock has wasted no time strengthening his squad, capturing midfielder Ben Harding from Aldershot and forward Joel Grant from Crewe. He has also been successful in keeping together the majority of last season's squad, something Peter Taylor was unable to do in 2009.

Stuart Beavon, Leon Johnson, Dave Winfield, Steve Arnold, Matt Bloomfield and Gareth Ainsworth have all signed extended contracts as Waddock looks to maintain the team spirit that has been so key in getting the Blues back where they want to be.

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