By Matt Cecil
Wanderers collected a second successive pre-season victory on Wednesday evening after a fine run and finish from young winger Matty Phillips handed the Blues a 1-0 win over Maidenhead United, wwfc.com reports.
After the signings of five new players at Adams Park over the summer had dominated much of the pre-season chatter amongst Blues fans, it was a player who has progressed from the youth ranks within the club who became the main talking point at York Road after a sparkling second-half display, culminating in the only goal of the game after 79 minutes.
Peter Taylor lived up to his promise of naming two entirely different teams for each half, with perhaps the more familiar players taking to the field in the second half of the game. New signing Chris Zebroski showed plenty of ability in the opening stages, combining pace, strength and smart footwork with impressive effect as he lined up alongside Leon Knight in an attacking partnership, having missed Friday's win at Flackwell Heath with a groin strain.
But Wanderers' Blue Square South opponents showed plenty of determination and effort as they reduced the League Two side to just a handful of chances in the first 45 minutes. Leon Knight stung the palms of the home goalkeeper with a smart effort on the turn after seven minutes, but it was Maidenhead's former QPR striker Richard Pacquette who came closest to scoring, lobbing just wide of Scott Shearer's goal moments later.
The defending of captain David McCracken drew plenty of plaudits from many of the 481 supporters inside York Road as he showed admirable composure and strength to thwart any attack from the home side, proving his eagerness to regain his place in the side after spending the end of the last campaign as third choice behind Leon Johnson and Mike Williamson, and one admirable piece of skill inside his own penalty area on 15 minutes would certainly have impressed the new manager.
Leon Knight was another player who particularly caught the eye in the first period, showing fabulous technique on several occasions to control the ball before running at opponents, while midfield duo John Mousinho and Robbie Rice battled hard in the centre of the park to offer a smart balance to the side, with Derek Duncan making his first appearance in pre-season on the left wing following his injury.
A tactical switch midway through the first half saw Zebroski switch places with Magno Silva Vieira, with the Brazilian moving into the striker's position, and Zebroski almost announced his arrival at the club in perfect style on 41 minutes, skipping past two Maidenhead defenders before rifling an effort just over the crossbar from 25 yards.
Manager Peter Taylor made eleven changes at the break, pairing John Sutton and Scott McGleish up front together while Matty Phillips and Gavin Grant supplied the pace on the flanks. But it was central midfielder Lewwis Spence who almost made it two goals in two games for the Blues, heading a yard wide from a Leon Crooks cross after 49 minutes as the Wanderers began to pile on the pressure.
Four minutes later, Spence came close to repeating his smart long range strike from Friday's friendly with Flackwell as his 25-yard drive flew just over the crossbar with all the speed of the express trains which were constantly flying past the far side of the Berkshire club's ground.
With Tommy Doherty pulling the strings in the centre of midfield and Mike Williamson and Leon Johnson keeping things tight at the back, the second half XI seemed to have more cohesion about them as they took the game to the Magpies, and a fine through ball from John Sutton on 55 minutes saw Matty Phillips almost open the scoring, but his curled effort sailed just the wrong side of the post.
Seven minutes later, it was Sutton again who created a goalscoring chance - this time for Scott McGleish, who fired over the bar from 18 yards - before Craig Woodman's cross on 69 minutes saw Sutton climb above his marker to head the ball goalwards and force a goal-line save from the home side's keeper.
A goal looked inevitable and after Lewwis Spence had tested the keeper's handling from range and Scott McGleish headed over from a Tommy Doherty flicked cross, it was Phillips who showed his potential with a fine run from the left wing before cutting in and firing low past the helpless goalkeeper.
The 17-year-old might have been a stranger to most Blues fans some six months ago but the pacy winger is quickly making a name for himself with some fine performances at youth, reserve and now first-team level, and his performance at York Road will have done his chances of regular first-team football no harm at all.
Scott McGleish tried his luck from 25 yards on 82 minutes before the home side almost grabbed a late equaliser, with Jamie Young flying to his right to make a fine save from a 20-yard effort, but referee Michael Rowley called time on the match soon after 9pm to seal Wycombe's second win of the pre-season campaign.
Peter Taylor's side will now to look make it three when they travel to Forest Green on Saturday (k.o. 3pm), and it is hoped that Gary Holt, who missed Wednesday's win with a slight muscle strain, will return to the squad for the trip to Gloucestershire.
Wanderers' First Half XI: Scott Shearer, Lewis Christon, Adam Green, David McCracken, Will Antwi, Magno Silva Vieira, John Mousinho, Robbie Rice, Derek Duncan, Chris Zebroski, Leon Knight.
Wanderers' Second Half XI: Jamie Young, Leon Crooks, Craig Woodman, Mike Williamson, Leon Johnson, Gavin Grant, Tommy Doherty, Lewwis Spence, Matty Phillips, Scott McGleish, John Sutton.
Referee: Michael Rowley
Assistants: Ernie Moore and James Evamy
Reaction from Peter Taylor and David McCracken to follow right here on wwfc.com - the first and best place for all your Wanderers news.
