By Matt Cecil
Wanderers and Brentford shared the points in an entertaining derby battle at Adams Park on Saturday afternoon, stretching the Blues' run of clean sheets to five games with the 0-0 draw.
Today's Clockwatch.Both sides enjoyed strong spells of possession and created a good number of chances in front of the biggest crowd of the season in South Bucks but found the two goalkeepers in fine form on a hot afternoon.
The Blues were boosted ahead of kick-off by the news that Tommy Doherty was fit to maintain his place in the midfield after being withdrawn last weekend with an ankle injury, and manager Peter Taylor was able to name unchanged side to the one which reached the top of the table with the win over Rochdale.
On a rare sunny day in South Bucks, the two teams were greeted by the biggest crowd of the season so far inside Adams Park with both sides looking to extend their unbeaten runs in a match which was undoubtedly the game of the division in Coca Cola League Two.
Hopes of a fifth straight Wycombe win were high in the terraces but the first chance fell to the visitors inside four minutes when a dangerous cross from the left by Glenn Poole was glanced on by Nathan Elder, and the ball seemed to take Marvin Williams by surprise as he was unable to fire home before Scott Shearer did well to pounce on the loose ball.
But Wycombe recovered well from the early scare and enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure around the Bees' penalty area following a Lewwis Spence corner, with Mike Williamson's cross almost falling to Leon Johnson's left foot on nine minutes.
It was clearly an encounter between two genuine promotion candidates and both sets of supporters seemed to appreciate the high standard of football unfolding in front of them, with both defences on top in the opening period.
However, the visiting back four were almost caught out by a routine long clearance by Scott Shearer on 19 minutes which bounced over the defence for Chris Zebroski to run on to, but with the goalkeeper rushing from his goal to force the striker to hurry, Zebroski could only clip his effort wide of the post.
Moments later, Lewwis Spence sent in a textbook cross from the left which was met by Gavin Grant's right foot at the back post, but the winger sent his effort bouncing into the ground rather than into the net and keeper Ben Hamer was able to punch the ball clear with Scott McGleish lurking.
The momentum was building, and Scott McGleish almost grabbed his second goal of the season on 22 minutes with a diving header at the back post after an excellent chipped cross by Gavin Grant. Hamer pulled off a smart save before Lewwis Spence showed great footwork into the box to feed ex-Brentford man John Mousinho, whose 20-yard effort was blocked.
Hamer had to be alert a minute later when David McCracken looped a dangerous left-footed cross into the six-yard box and with Zebroski leaping high, the keeper punched the ball clear to keep the match goalless.
Brentford weren't going to allow Wycombe to dominate proceedings, however, and Nathan Elder slashed an effort a few yards wide following Marcus Bean's knock-down, but Leon Johnson did well to put the striker under enough pressure to reduce the danger.
With the temperature increasing on a glorious day inside the stadium, the tempo dropped towards half-time and both sets of midfielders saw plenty of the ball without creating much in front of goal.
They say the mark of a fine goalkeeper is the ability to keep concentration and pull off a smart save after long spells without being called into action, and Scott Shearer did just that with an excellent stop to his right-hand side from Adam Newton's 20-yard drive before referee Richard Beeby called time on a decent first 45 minutes.
The second period began with a piece of exquisite skill from Gavin Grant as he swivelledon the right wing, beating two players in the process, and delivered a perfect cross to the back post, where Scott McGleish could only head into the side netting from a tight angle.
But there was controversy moments later as Scott Shearer picked up the ball after David McCracken controlled the ball eight yards out and referee Beeby adjudged it to be a back pass. With all the Wycombe players assembled on the goal-line, Charlie MacDonald's first effort was blocked before Glenn Poole fired over, much to the relief of the home supporters.
Craig Woodman was then penalised for a handball as it bounced up and struck him on the arm in a dangerous position on the right-wing and as Poole sent free-kick in, Brentford's supporters were adamant that the ball struck the hand of John Mousinho although Beeby waved the appeals away.
The game was certainly livening up and with a couple of strong tackles flying in, the official needed to keep the peace in the local derby. Tommy Doherty showed no signs of his injury with another masterclass in midfield, releasing Scott McGleish inside the box with an exquisite chip with the outside of his boot before the striker got his timing wrong with the volley.
Glenn Poole's set-pieces always proved to be a threat and one particular free-kick from the right wing on 55 minutes bounced just a couple of yards wide of the far post after evading everyone in the box and the same player won a corner with a deflected strike from distance moments later.
Brentford kept up the pressure, with Craig Pead firing wide from the resulting corner, before Peter Taylor made a bold move to bring on strikers Matt Harrold and Simon Church for their first Adams Park appearances, replacing Scott McGleish and Lewwis Spence respectively.
The switch meant Chris Zebroski moved to the left-wing of a 4-4-2 formation, with Harrold and Church forming the strike partnership as the Blues looked to find the all-important goal to collect their fifth successive win.
Harrold was almost sent through for a one-on-one chance by Tommy Doherty on 63 minutes but perhaps a lack of match fitness caught up with the striker as he was unable to break away from the defender, but he showed great footwork in the box moments later as he collected Gavin Grant's low cross and fired just past the far post.
Chris Zebroski then hit the target with a drilled effort on 67 minutes after good build-up play from the Blues but the striker's shot was straight at Hamer in the visiting goal.
The next chance fell to the Bees on 72 minutes and it was on-loan Reading defender Alan Bennett who almost snuck the ball in at the back post from a well-worked short corner, with Adam Newton's cross being met with a downward header forcing Shearer to tip it round the post.
Peter Taylor made his third and final substitution of the match moments later, replacing Gavin Grant with youngster Matt Phillips in a like-for-like switch on the right wing. Blues centre-back then oozed class with a superb piece of defending to win a goal-kick in a battle with Charlie MacDonald, before Matty Phillips almost stole the show with his first touch of the game.
The winger danced past two defenders on the right before sending a teasing cross to the back post, where Matt Harrold's header was palmed behind by Ben Hamer, and Williamson met the resulting corner with a strong header which flew over the bar.
John Mousinho was battling like a warrior in the Blues midfield against the club which released him in the summer and the dozens of friends and family members in the crowd would have been delighted with his all-action display as he attempted to take the game by the scruff of its neck.
Visiting manager Andy Scott replaced left winger Glenn Poole with ex-Plymouth man Ryan Dickson on 78 minutes, which came as a surprise to many Wycombe fans after an impressive performance by the departing player.
Both sides wanted a winner, and an exciting local derby was coming to a close just at a stage where everyone in the ground would have wanted it to continue, such was the quality of football on display.
Mike Williamson became the first name in the referee's notebook on 89 minutes for pulling down Nathan Elder in a physical battle of two of the taller players on display and the resulting free-kick bounced conveniently into the arms of Scott Shearer despite the crowd of players in his way.
It proved to be the final action of an enthralling game and despite the lack of goals, both fans were able to go home satisfied at seeing a fine encounter between two sides who will surely be challenging for a top seven spot at the end of the campaign.
