Friday 3rd September 2004 – League Two

Wycombe Wanderers 1 Oxford United 1

Top goalscorer Nathan Tyson

Goal: Tyson 45 (pen)

Booked: Silk

Sent Off: Silk (second bookable offence)

Attendance: 6,348

Footymad report (www.wycombewanderers-mad.co.uk):

“The Sky television cameras paid a rare visit to the Causeway Stadium and viewers were treated to a lively encounter that ended with honours even.

Wycombe took the game to the visitors right from the off with a succession of corners in the opening 15 minutes and it was no surprise when they created the first clear-cut chance of the game. Clint Easton flighted a lovely ball into the area but the usually reliable Ian Stonebridge failed to control it with his first touch.

With Wanderers failing to capitalise on their chances, Oxford began to weather the storm and took the lead midway through the half. The home side failed to clear a corner and Rob Wolleaston delivered a pinpoint ball to captain Leo Roget, who was left completely unmarked to head home.

Wycombe had only gone behind once in the league so far this season and on that occasion they went on to lose 3-0 to Rochdale. This time it was a different story as the home side responded by creating a plethora of chances. Top scorer Nathan Tyson nearly equalised after 25 minutes but his effort fizzed wide. His and Wycombe's fortunes changed right on the stroke of half-time though, when he converted a penalty after debutant Bas Savage had been felled in the box.

The second half began just as the first finished, when minutes after the restart Stonebridge's header was superbly saved by Oxford keeper Chris Tardiff. This seemed to spur the visitors into life and they began to control the game. For all their attacking it wasn't until the 75th minute that they had their first clear-cut opportunity. A mix-up in the home defence left Matt Robinson with just Frank Talia to beat, but the former Reading man could only blaze wide.

With ten minutes left, the game took a turn for the worse for the home side when referee Keith Hill bizarrely dismissed Gary Silk. The terrier-like defender was first booked for a mis-timed challenge and from the resulting free-kick Mr Hill deemed his encroachment as a second bookable offence and produced a red card.

From that moment on it was end-to-end action but neither side was able to deliver the final punch for the winning scoreline.”

Monday 30th August 2004 – League Two

Wycombe Wanderers 2 Grimsby Town 0

Wycombe Wanderers: Frank Talia; Gus Uhlenbeek, Stuart Nethercott, Gary Silk, Keith Ryan; Danny Senda, Michael Williamson, Clint Easton; Adam Birchall, Ian Stonebridge, Nathan Tyson (Shahed Ahmed 88). Subs not used: Steve Williams, Roger Johnson, Johnny Dixon, Russell Martin.

Goals: Birchall 43, 51

Booked: Tyson

Sent Off: none

Attendance: 4,320

Footymad report (www.wycombewanderers-mad.co.uk):

“Adam Birchall, on loan from Arsenal, bagged a brace for Wycombe to see off Grimsby Town at the Causeway Stadium.

The young striker pounced twice for the home side in the space of ten minutes either side of the break.

His first came against the run of play with Wycombe under pressure right from the whistle as a Grimsby side, buoyed by their victory over Mansfield on Saturday, took the game to the Chairboys.

Indeed, it was the Mariners that came closest to taking the lead when Terry Fleming struck the post in the opening minutes.

The visitors then had a host of chances with Dean Gordon, John McDermott and Dean Crowe all going close.

Crowe in particular should have done better when his persistence saw him break clear of the Wycombe defence but with just Frank Talia to beat he shot over the bar.

With half-time fast approaching, Wanderers broke the deadlock. The Blues put the game beyond Grimsby's reach on 51 minutes. The away side failed to clear a Nathan Tyson cross and as the ball ricocheted around the six-yard box, Birchall leapt to head in his second.

This effectively ended the contest, which the Chairboys proceeded to dominate with some intricate play. Michael Reddy failed to grab a consolation for Grimsby in the final stages when Talia dived low to save his penalty kick.”

Saturday 28th August 2004 – League Two

Kidderminster Harriers 0 Wycombe Wanderers 2

Wycombe Wanderers: Frank Talia; Gus Uhlenbeek, Stuart Nethercott, Gary Silk, Keith Ryan; Danny Senda, Michael Williamson, Clint Easton; Adam Birchall (Shahed Ahmed 69), Ian Stonebridge, Nathan Tyson. Subs not used: Steve Williams, Roger Johnson, Johnny Dixon, Russell Martin.

Goals: Tyson 21, Ahmed 90

Booked: Ahmed

Sent Off: none

Attendance: 2,444

Footymad report (www.harriers-mad.co.uk):

“Impressive Wycombe Wanderers eased to a comfortable 2-0 victory at Kidderminster Harriers to maintain their unbeaten League Two record.

Wanderers were always in control against a lethargic home side who looked shattered after Tuesday's penalty shoot-out defeat to Cardiff in the Carling Cup.

The pace and movement of striker Nathan Tyson along with a classy midfield display from Clint Easton was enough to see off Harriers.

Tyson, a nominal fee bargain from Reading, bagged the opener for Tony Adams' men in the 21st minute, but the visitors did not seal their success until second half injury time through substitute Shahed Ahmed after a Tyson assist.

However, Wanderers looked in no danger against Kidderminster who relied on their opponents defence to give keeper Frank Talia problems.

Centre-half Michael Williamson sliced a clearance in alarming fashion before the interval but Talia back peddled to push the ball over the bar.

Wycombe dominated the early possession and Harriers highly-rated young keeper John Danby had to deny Tyson before Ian Stonebridge, also lively in attack, looped a half volley on the post.

Tyson notched his third goal of the season, the first conceded by Harriers, when he skinned Wayne Hatswell and steered home an Easton precise through ball.

Danby palmed a vicious Tyson drive over the bar in the 33rd minute, while Harriers struggled to threaten with two Steve Burton free-kicks headed off target.

Jan Molby's team were completely undone by Tyson who went on to hit the post in the second period after again flying past Hatswell.

The Harriers keeper produced his best to keep out a low drive and a dangerous cross-shot from the same player.

Harriers missed the chance for an equaliser two minutes from time as skipper Hatswell headed Burton's set piece straight at Talia.

And Tyson made him pay in injury time, motoring ahead of full-back Lee Jenkins and providing Ahmed with a simple tap in for his first league goal.”

Tuesday 24th August 2004 – Carling Cup first round

Wycombe Wanderers 0 Bristol City 1

Wycombe Wanderers: Frank Talia; Gus Uhlenbeek, Stuart Nethercott, Gary Silk, Roger Johnson; Danny Senda, Joe Burnell, Clint Easton; Adam Birchall (Shahed Ahmed 69), Ian Stonebridge, Nathan Tyson. Subs not used: Steve Williams, Andy Reilly, Keith Ryan, Shahed Ahmed, Russell Martin.

Goals: none

Booked: Senda

Sent Off: none

Attendance: 1,778

Footymad report (www.wycombewanderers-mad.co.uk):

“Bristol City left it late but kick started their season with a narrow Carling Cup victory at Wycombe courtesy of a 70th minute Leroy Lita strike.

It was Wanderers who were the brighter of the teams in the first half and created some decent chances through positive play.

The first real chance, however, came City's way when Lita met a Christian Roberts cross, only to see his header drift just wide of the far post.

The game opened up midway through the first half when both sides had penalty appeals turned down. For Wanderers, Danny Senda was felled in the box and it almost looked as though the assistant referee was ready to flag until he saw that Paul Danson had waved play on. City were denied when the skilful Roberts was released down the left flank and crossed, only for it to hit the arm of Stuart Nethercott.

Player-manager Brian Tinnion must have rallied the troops at the break because the second half witnessed a rejuvenated City. Right from the restart the visitors had a host of chances with the partnership of Lee Miller and Lita causing the Wycombe defence all sorts of problems. Nethercott was losing out in the air to Miller whereas Lita was turning Roger Johnson inside out at every opportunity.

And that was precisely how the winning goal arrived. Lita collected the ball in the middle of the park and after laying off, continued his run into the Wycombe box.

Miller showed great composure to await Lita's run and delivered a pinpoint cross for the Congo-born striker to head home.”

Saturday 21st August 2004 – League Two

Wycombe Wanderers 0 Rochdale 3

Wycombe Wanderers: Frank Talia; Stuart Nethercott, Gary Silk, Roger Johnson, Keith Ryan (Gus Uhlenbeek 62); Danny Senda, Michael Williamson, Joe Burnell (Adam Birchall 46), Clint Easton (Russell Martin 77); Ian Stonebridge, Nathan Tyson. Subs not used: Steve Williams, Johnny Dixon.

Goals: none

Booked: none

Sent Off: none

Attendance: 4,440

Footymad report (www.wycombewanderers-mad.co.uk):

“Wycombe crashed to their first defeat of the season when they comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Rochdale at the Causeway Stadium.

Rochdale should have been ahead by half-time as both Grant Holt and Paul Tait missed good chances to put them in front.

Wycombe were never able to get hold of the ball and this was to be the case throughout the 90 minutes.

In the second half it was very much more of the same and it came as a relief to the visitors when Holt scored with an overhead kick on 70 minutes following a corner.

Wycombe manager Tony Adams tried to ring the changes by using three substitutes but his team were never able to dominate the midfield area.

A late penalty arrived for Rochdale when Gus Uhlenbeek tugged back Tait in the area and Gary Jones scored from the spot.

Sub Leighton McGivern capped the Rochdale show with a fine solo goal a minute later after going past four Wycombe defenders before lashing a 20-yard shot past goalkeeper Frank Talia.

It was a sorry afternoon for the home side that had looked very confident in their opening three matches, but Rochdale were well organised and a strong looking outfit who thoroughly deserved their victory.”