By Ross Jeavons

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Every season has its turning points. From the first kick to the last, a split second can mean the difference between success and failure, promotion and despair.

Wanderers supporters know this more than most. The past decade has seen relegations, play-off defeats, cup runs and top-three finishes.

The 2008/09 campaign boasted a number of defining moments without which the Chairboys could well have been resigned to another season in the fourth tier of English football.

Many intricate flicks, powerful headers and last ditch tackles have combined to fling the famous Buckinghamshire boys into League One - but wwfc.com has tried its best to narrow them down and come up with the top five moments that defined an epic season.

Disagree with the choices? E-mail your thoughts to media@wwfc.com.

5. Jackson Skies It - 11.04.09

It had started so well. With just six games remaining in the season automatic promotion rivals Gillingham were in town and were being put in their place by an imposing first half performance from Peter Taylor's men.

John Akinde granted the Blues the lead, breaking the offside trap before slotting home in cool, trademark fashion.

Then it went downhill. The Chairboys retreated into their shells as the second period got underway, leaving the home support biting their fingernails in angst as wave after wave of Gillingham attacks headed towards Jamie Young's goal.

The worst was yet to come. As Craig Woodman poked the ball away from Simeon Jackon inside the box, the Gills' star man went crashing to the ground. Referee Lee Mason saw nothing wrong, but his assistant did. To the astonishment of the Chairboys backline the officials held an impromptu conference, before pointing to the spot.

As the furore died down it became immediately apparent that three points could well be heading back on the team coach to Kent, as the prolific Jackson dusted himself off and stepped up to the plate. His 19^th goal of the season looked to be inevitable. It wasn't.

The spot-kick sailed high over the bar; dropping into a Dreams Stand housing some rather horrified looking travelling supporters. The Wanderers clung on for the win, all but ending the Gills hopes for automatic promotion.

4 .The Arrival of John Akinde

He came without fanfare. Little known 19-year-old striker John Akinde was one of a number of loan players to make the switch to Adams Park as the season took its toll on Peter Taylor's squad, arriving with the promise of goals to aid the Chairboys promotion push.

With little Football League experience some Wanderers fans could have been forgiven for making an early, somewhat cynical judgement on the giant forward, but they would be pleasantly surprised.

The Bristol City man burst onto the scene in imperious fashion, bagging a brace in the pulsating 3-3 draw with rivals Brentford at Griffin Park.

Big Sensation: John Akinde's seven goals would go a long way to securing promotion

His second of the day was a contender for goal of the season, sending the hot prospect on a astonishing run of seven goals in eleven games as the campaign reached its climax.

Match winners against Luton and Gillingham sent the Blues on a late season spurt, ensuring that League One football was secured for the first time in five years.

We might never know whether the Wanderers would have gained promotion without their new cult hero but one thing's for sure, he brought A-kind-e magic to the Quarters.


3. The Quakers Pay the Penalty - 18.10.09

As Darlington came to town on a balmy October day, spirits were high at Adams Park. Ten games unbeaten in the league and riding the crest of a wave, promotion from the basement division seemed a real possibility.

However Darlington had different ideas. A scrappy affair was starting to swing in their favour, as the Quakers took a first half lead thanks to Jason Kennedy's emphatic finish.

The Blues couldn't find their feet and things turned from bad to worse when Chris Zebroski inexplicably saw red after a clash with Tim Ryan, who was also presented with his marching orders.

An already sizeable task had been made truly awkward, but the Chairboys would be saved by the fourth official's board.

Six minutes of time were added on and in true showman's style, the home side left it until the dying seconds.

Spot On: Scott McGleish levelled things up on 96 minutes

With 'Darlo' fans preparing to dance a merry jig back up North, Matt Harrold was bundled over in the box, earning Peter Taylor's side a last gasp lifeline.

Who better to step up than that seasoned pro, Scott McGleish. He made no mistake, squeezing the ball past Simon Brown to earn a point.

The Wanderers went on to make it 18 games unbeaten in League Two, building foundations that would prove crucial as the campaign wore on.


2. The Kings of Kenilworth - 21.04.09

The Wanderers were in touching distance, no one could deny that. With three games remaining they sat inside the automatic promotion places on goal difference, with the trip to Luton their hallowed 'game-in-hand'.

Well over 1,000 of the 'barmy army' made the trip to Bedfordshire, sensing something special could be on the cards as the Chairboys came into the fixture with three wins in their last four.

Luton were already relegated, but would refuse to make it simple. John Akinde handed the visitors the lead with a typical bulldozing run, but the already shredded nerves of the away support were to be tested once more.

The Hatters threw caution to the wind, with defenders driving into attacking positions on a regular basis as the Blues 'parked the bus' in front of Jamie Young's goal.

In truth the Football League's meanest defence never looked like relenting, but that didn't make it any easier on the heart as Peter Taylor's men clung on for a massive victory.

Three points clear with two games remaining, it gave the Wanderers some much needed breathing space - with one more point sufficient to book their place in League One.

1. 'Zebs' Saves The Day - 7.04.09

It was all going wrong. After a superb start to the 2008/09 season the wheels appeared to be coming off the Chairboys promotion campaign and with just one win in their last nine games, the Wanderers faced a Tuesday night trip to Darlington with trepidation.

A 288-mile round trip wasn't exactly what the doctor ordered but the Blues still started strongly, as Akinde fired them into a first half lead with his fourth goal for the club.

Naturally it wasn't to be that simple. Jason Kennedy (making his second appearance in this top five) levelled things, sending the Blues heading towards a draw which was of little use to anyone.

As the clock ticked on fans listened around the country in despair, wondering what they'd done to deserve such scant reward for another long season of toil.

A rather lifeless Darlington Arena was ready to shut down for the night as the ball rolled out of play in the 93^rd minute, and Craig Woodman jogged over to swing in what would surely be the last kick of the night.

The Wanderers needed a saviour and that's exactly what they got - stand up Chris Zebroski. It wasn't pretty, but it was certainly effective. Woodman's set-piece was met by the head of the ex-Torquay man and after a couple of rather fortunate deflections the ball dropped into the back of the net, sparking wild celebrations from the boys in yellow.

Heads up: Chris Zebroski's winner sent the Chairboys on a late season spurt

At that moment everyone connected with the club realised how big those three points would be. A side lacking confidence was transformed, picking up 12 points from their next five games and pulling away from the chasing pack.

Not many were in the ground to see it, but the magnitude of that moment was undeniable.

Disagree? E-mail media@wwfc.com