Matt Cecil reporting from Kingsmeadow
Matt Harrold's 76th minute strike handed the Blues a 1-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon in their opening pre-season friendly, as a number of new faces in the Wycombe side contributed to an encouraging performance against the Blue Square Premier outfit.
Just nine days after Peter Taylor's squad began training after the summer break, his players showed plenty of promise for the new campaign with a composed display against the Kingston outfit, with recent recruits Michael Duberry, Lewis Montrose and Joe Cobb enjoying their first action for the club.
They were joined in the squad by five trialists, including former Premiership frontman Carl Cort, ex-Ipswich midfielder Ian Westlake and one-time Fulham striker Calum Willock, while Matt Bloomfield, Craig Woodman and new defender Chris Westwood were left out as a precaution after suffering injury niggles in training.
Westlake in particular looked lively in the middle of the park, drawing a fine save from Wombles keeper Seb Brown in the first half with a dipping volley, while Carl Cort and Matt Phillips also forced Brown to make smart stops.
The second half produced less goalmouth action but Matt Harrold seized upon a fine through-ball from Lewis Montrose to round the keeper and seal the victory for the Blues, and the defence rarely looked likely to concede courtesy of a dominant display from Michael Duberry.
Wanderers travel to Devon on Monday for the Errea South West Challenge Cup and
wwfc.com will have all the reaction from today's game, as well as a preview of the week ahead, over the coming days.
Minute-by-minute updates from the game can be found below.
2nd Half XI: Jamie Young, TJ Moncur (Dan Fitchett, 76), Trialist, Michael Duberry (c), Trialist, Chris Zebroski, Lewis Montrose, John Mousinho, Jon-Paul Pittman, Matt Harrold, Stuart Beavon
Full time - The referee calls time on the Blues' first slice of action since that memorable promotion-winning day on May 2nd and it's a victory for Peter Taylor's men to kick off the 2009/10 campaign. Matt Harrold made the difference with his smart finish after latching on to a Lewis Montrose through-ball which capped an all-round encouraging performance from the visitors.
87th min - Ricky Wellard fires over the top from distance and JP has an effort at the other end which won't be troubling the scorers.
84th min - Stuart Beavon has looked impressive today with some tenacious play in and around the Wanderers' attack and he wins a corner, before covering miles of ground to get back to prevent a counter-attack from the home side.
82nd min - The Dons want an equaliser but Wycombe's defence has been strong all afternoon, and in truth the two trialists at the back have rarely been troubled.
79th min - Big Matt Harrold wasn't far away from his second of the afternoon as he stretches to meet a John Mousinho corner, but it came to nothing.
77th min - TJ Moncur is finally given a breather after being the only player to have been on the pitch for more than 45 minutes, as Dan Fitchett comes on in midfield with John Mousinho dropping to right-back.
76th min - GOAL! Matt Harrold must be wanting to play here every week - last season's top scorer latches on to a fine through ball from Lewis Montrose, stays onside, calmly strides past the keeper and taps home. Simple stuff, and the Blues have the lead.75th min - Take a bow, Chris Zebroski. Those dancing feet bamboozled the Dons' right-back and delivered a fine cross into the area, where Matt Harrold was just beaten to the ball by the centre-back. 15 minutes left, still no goals.
72nd min - Quick feet from Chris Zebroski and a powerful effort from 25 yards, but it's over the top. Chants of "Sign up Ian Westlake" resonate from a small band of Wanderers supporters behind the goal, and the left-footed midfielder must have given Peter Taylor food for thought with his performance today.
70th min - Time for drinks as a Dons player requires treatment, and as soon as play restarts, Youngy pulls off a smart save in the box to deny Jon Main, who did well to latch on to a through ball.
68th min - Nice football all round from the visitors and the front six were all involved in a quick passing move in the Dons' half, but there was no end product on this occasion.
64th min - Penalty shouts from the Wombles as Jon Main tumbles in the box but the ref waves away the appeals - unfortunately our attentions had been distracted by cricket-mad Matty Bloomfield enquiring about the latest score in the Ashes. Looks like the rain is saving us in that one...
59th min - For me, the stand-out players of the first half were Ian Westlake, Matt Phillips and Joe Cobb, but it's been difficult for many of the second half eleven to stamp their authority on the game so far as the midfield has been pretty crowded.
Just as I type, JP Pittman jigs past a man in the box and wins a corner, from which Matt Harrold nods the ball over the bar from about eight yards out.
56th min - Back to matters on the pitch at Kingsmeadow, the Blues (in yellow) are still probing for the opening goal but we've entered a quiet stage of the game. The best opening of the last few moments came to the brilliantly-named Calvin Bossman but his low drive was straight at Jamie Young in his fluorescent green keeper strip.
54th min - Ben Campbell and I were warming up for the beginning of the new campaign last night with a viewing of 'Taylor Made', the newly-released DVD of the promotion-winning story of last season. It's definitely worth a watch and it'll be a superb memento of an unforgettable 12 months, so I'd recommend getting your hands on a copy.
51st min - Lewis Montrose has his first chance to shine in the Wanderers colours this afternoon and he sees a 20-yard drive fly a yard or two past the post.
49th min - Just to clear things up, we have two unidentified trialists in the side for this second period - one is a left-back and the other is partnering man mountain Michael Duberry in the centre of defence. 'Dubes' has taken the captain's armband from the departed Tommy Doherty.
47th min - The home side have the first chance of the second half and it comes courtesy of a sliced pass which falls kindly for Jon Main inside the area, but he slashed his shot wide of the far stick.
46th min - We're back underway and it looks like JP Pittman is partnering Matt Harrold up-front, with Stuart Beavon on the left of midfield. Matt Harrold will have happy memories of this ground following his FA Cup hat-trick against the Dons in November.
Ten changes for the Blues on the pitch and a switch in the press box as well, as Ben Campbell gives his fingers a rest for 45 minutes and hands over control to a younger better-looking model(!)
Meanwhile, former Wanderers Derek Duncan and Steven Gregory are on for the Wombles.
By Ben Campbell
1st Half XI: Scott Shearer, TJ Moncur, Luke Oliver, Leon Johnson, Joe Cobb, Matty Phillips, Tommy Doherty, Ian Westlake, George Daly, Carl Cort, Calum Willock
Blues boss Peter Taylor is currently discussing the starting XI's performance in the first 45. They are all set to be replaced in the second half.
The half-time whistle has gone here at Kingsmeadow and the score is deadlocked at 0-0. Wanderers have had the better of the chances, most notably Ian Westlake's effort which had to be pushed over the bar. Matty Phillips has also gone close, as the Blues look to start their pre-season with a win.
44th min - A little too much space on the edge of our 18-yard box allowed Kennedy Adjei to line-up a shot but Scott Shearer was able to watch the effort over the bar.
43rd min - As the half draws it a close, the game has become a little scrappy.
40th min - More tireless work from George Daly pens in the Wombles back four. His work rate has been good and when given the opportunity he has troubled Chris Hussey down the right.
39th min - From the resulting corner, Cort sees a header tipped over the bar by Brown. The young 'keeper has looked with shots but not so comfortable with crosses.
38th min - Brown has just kept the score at 0-0 by denying a stunning 20-yard effort from Westlake's shot.
37th min - Nice vision from Cort to find Phillips out on the left hand side. The 18-year-olds cross was deflected behind for a corner.
35th min - The ever-improving Matt Phillips forced a great save by Wombles keeper Sebb Brown. From the resulting corner, the 'keeper was once again in all sorts of bother and nearly allowed Willock to nip in.
33rd min - At the other end, a Luke Oliver header from a Matty Phillips corner brought the first save of the match.
31st min - Wimbledon have offered little going forward but were close to creating a golden opportunity moments ago. The ball was headed back across goal but neither Kedwell or Rapson could get on the end of it.
29th min - Westlake nearly applied a touch of class to proceedings moments ago. His Di Canio esque volley edged just passed the post after Cort had challenged with his marker.
27th min - Peter Taylor has just popped down from his spot in the Directors Box to speak to George Daly. The 18-year-old has been a threat in this opening half hour.
25th min - We're starting to create more and are applying some pressure to the Wombles defence.
23rd min - Best move of the match has just been on show. Wanderers switched the ball from left to right with nearly all 11 having a touch before Matty Phillips' shot was deflected away for a corner. Great stuff.
21st min - Daly is down holding his head. He did fall a bit awkwardly but he's up again and raring to go.
20th min - The game has opened up a bit in the last couple of minutes with openings at both ends. George Daly just showed a glimpse of his electric pace as he raced down the right.
18th min - Nearly 20 minutes and neither side have created any clear cut chances as yet. There has been some decent football on show and none more so than AFC Wimbledon's last move.
15th min - Great turn and cross from Ian Westlake towards Cort at the back post, but Paul Lorraine was able to get back and clear the danger. Westlake has looked cool on the ball.
13th min - Great switch of play from Joe Cobb out towards Carl Cort. Cort won his flick on but when it came back to him from George Daly he fluffed his effort and the follow up from Willock was well over.
11th min - Doc has started in his usual commanding manner, as the rain begins to lash down here in Kingston.
9th min - Strike pairing Calum Willock and Carl Cort are putting themselves about but are up against two brutes of defenders. Going to be a good battle.
7th min - Good covering from Joe Cobb to deny Peter Rapson latching onto a through ball.
6th min - Wombles' keeper Sebb Brown makes a massive mistake from a simple back pass and nearly allows the willing Calum Willock to steal the ball and slot into an empty net. He recovered in the end with the help of referee Gavin Ward.
4th min - New signing Joe Cobb wins a free-kick after being brought down on the left hand side. Nothing came off the resulting kick.
3rd min - It's been fine start from the Blues and we are starting to dictate the play. Some nice passing is on show in these early days.
2nd min - Decent first touch from Carl Cort. His touch brought Ian Westlake into the game but the move broke down on the left.
1st min - AFC have got us underway and football is back! Early pressure from the Wombles from the kick-off, but Oliver did well to ease his marker out and win a goal-kick.
14.57 - A lot of rumour surrounds the captaincy at the club, following the departure of David McCracken. For the first half at least of this game Tommy Doherty is skipper.
14.55 - The teams are out.
Hello and welcome back to the Clockwatch feature right here on wwfc.com. Today sees the start of the Wanderers' pre-season schedule away at AFC Wimbledon. Due to it being a friendly changes are expected throughout, but below is how we are starting.
Amongst the trialists today are former Ipswich man Ian Westlake, ex-Wimbledon striker Carl Cort and forward Calum Willock, who played under boss Peter Taylor at Stevenage.
Wanderers:
Scott Shearer
TJ Moncur
Luke Oliver
Leon Johnson
Joe Cobb
Matty Phillips
Tommy Doherty
Ian Westlake
George Daly
Carl Cort
Calum Willock
AFC Wimbledon
Sebb Brown
Jay Conroy
Chris Hussey
Kennedy Adjei
Paul Lorraine
Ben Judge
Sam Hatton
Lewis Taylor
Danny Kedwell
Peter Rapson
Luke Moore
