Jermaine Easter had earlier put the finishing touch to a neat move to give Wycombe the lead, before squandering an excellent chance to put the Blues two up.

Both sides went close to a stoppage time winner in a grandstand finish to leave both sides feeling they could, and perhaps should, have claimed all three points.

There was plenty of team news ahead of kick off with new signing Leon Crooks thrown straight into the starting line-up to partner Stephen O'Halloran in the centre of defence with regular pairing Mike Williamson (suspended) and Will Antwi (groin) both out.

Tommy Doherty returned in midfield in place of Stefan Oakes who was missing with flu, whilst there was a surprise on the bench with a welcome return for Sergio Torres, out since September with an ankle injury, however there was no place in the squad for Fola Onibuje, despite him signing a permanent deal on Friday.

An evenly contested first half began in torrential rain with Rochdale, who had scored 10 goals in their previous three matches, straight onto the attack with Adam Rundle's dangerous cross well cleared by O'Halloran inside the first minute. Chris Dagnall then drew Ricardo Batista into a save with his long range effort whilst at the other end it took a good challenge by Lee Crooks to prevent Jermaine Easter profiting from Kevin Betsy's threaded through ball.

Tommy Doherty was back in the Wycombe side having re-signed on loan for the remainder of the season and was the outstanding player in midfield. Easter brilliantly touched off his forward ball on 17 minutes to send Matt Bloomfield clear on goal from just inside the Rochdale half. But with defenders gaining all the time in pursuit his shot from the edge of the penalty area was well saved by the legs of Matt Gilks.

Two minutes later Stephen O'Halloran headed across goal and wide from Chris Palmer's free kick wide on the right, before Easter's persistance led to Betsy picking up possession and skipping past a defender before shooting wildly off target.

Chris Dagnall was equally wasteful from a good position for Dale whilst Gilks had to be brave at the other end at the feet of Easter as he slid in attempting to get a touch on Mooney's cross.

Anthony Grant went close to his first goal in a Wycombe shirt with a curling shot from outside the area but it was the visitors who came closest to scoring before half time as Glen Murray drew an excellent save from Batista when the ball sat up invitingly for him 20 yards out.

HT: 0-0

Wycombe started brightly in the second half and took the lead with an excellent goal on 51 minutes. Tommy Mooney's intelligent flick from Batista's clearance took Dale full back Ramsden out of the game allowing Betsy to unselfishly square the ball for Easter to apply a composed finish from 12 yards out.

Rochdale could have drawn level almost instantly had Murray not snatched at a chance after Martin had struck his clearance against him, whilst Dagnall headed just wide before Easter had his golden chance to extend the Blues lead.

Played through by a superb ball from Mooney, Easter ran clear on goal and after opting to go himself rather than slip in Betsy to his left shot disappointingly straight at Gilks.

Wycombe would later rue the missed opportunity but before that there was a first appearance for Sergio Torres since September 9th as he replaced the impressive Doherty for the last 20 minutes.

Mooney went close with a chip from outside the area, but just the Blues sensed an important first win in four, the visitors snatched an equaliser with 10 minutes remaining.

Substitute Kelvin Etuhu got down to the by line before catching Batista out at his near post with a shot from the tightest of angles.

Kevin Betsy bears down on goal in stoppage time

It was a big blow to Wycombe and Batista, but Wanderers on-loan stopper made up for his error with two excellent saves in stoppage time. First he kept out Gary Jones before brilliantly tipping Dagnall's long range shot onto the crossbar.

In an exciting finish Wanderers could also have grabbed a late winner were in not for a crucial challange from Alan Goodall as Betsy bore down on goal.

FT: 1-1

Wycombe: Batista, Martin, Crooks, O'Halloran, Palmer, Betsy, Bloomfield, Doherty (Torres 69), Grant, Easter, Mooney (McParland 90) subs: Young, Christon, Anya

Bookings: Martin 25 (foul), Easter 89 (foul)
Goal: Easter 51

Rochdale: Gilks, Ramsden, Goodall, Crooks (Jackson 46), McArdle, Jones, Doolan, Rundle (Thompson 76), Brown (Etuhu 55), Dagnall,Murray subs: Rigby, Cooksey

Booking: Crooks 29 (unsporting behaviour)
Goal: Etuhu 80Referee: Mr D Drysdale
Attendance: 4067 (217 away)

James Skitt reporting at Adams Park