Wycombe exited the FA Cup at the first stage as Blue Square Bet Premier side Fleetwood Town claimed a 2-0 victory at Highbury Stadium.

Despite abright start in which Stuart Lewis and Scott Donnelly fired wastefully wide, the Blues went behind when Andy Mangan converted Jamie McGuire's clipped pass midway through the opening period.

Richard Brodie was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Leon Johnson before half-time but Wanderers were unable to take advantage, struggling to create enough chances to threaten a leveller.

And the Cod Army's progress was secured when Jamie Vardy fired home smartly with 10 minutes left on the clock, leaving Gary Waddock's side the victims of a deserved cup upset.

Dave Winfield and Joel Grant returned to the starting XI for the clash at Highbury Stadium, but skipper Gareth Ainsworth wasn't unavailable after surgery on a broken thumb and Stuart Beavon didn't travel due to a hamstring injury.

Like at Notts County last Saturday, Wanderers nearly went behind in the opening minute when Richard Brodie's block from Dave Winfield's clearance flashed just past the post.

The inventory of Grant then created two chances in quick succession for the Blues, but both pinpoint crosses were fired wide from firstly Stuart Lewis and then Scott Donnelly.

Jamie Milligan was the next to try his luck in what had been a hugely entertaining opening 15 minutes, crashing a superb free-kick against Nikki Bull's left-hand post from 25 yards.

At the other end, Ben Strevens saw a long-range drive deflect just wide, and from the resulting corner, Grant Basey's header was well saved by Scott Davies from Scott Donnelly's inswinging corner.

Fleetwood broke the deadlock on 25 minutes when Andrew Mangan, who looked suspiciously offside, calmly finished past Bull from 15 yards after latching onto a smart through ball.

It could have got worse for the Blues just minutes later, but Brodie headed Milligan's pinpoint cross onto the bar from six yards out. Bull then pulled off a fantastic double save, firstly denying Jamie Vardy from the edge of the box before closing down Brodie.

Grant, Wycombe's man of the half, registered the visitors' first shot on goal in a 20-minute spell belonging to the hosts, drawing a smart stop from Davies after cutting in from the left touchline.

A spicy undercurrent which had been running throughout the half then spilled over just before the break when Brodie received a red card for an elbow on Leon Johnson, setting up a guaranteed blockbuster of a second half.

Wycombe opted for a patient approach at the start of the second period and drew a save from Scott Davies when substitute Jordon Ibe danced past his man and fired an effort towards the near post, before Winfield made an important block to deny Jamie Vardy's goalbound shot.

Nikki Bull then had to make a smart diving save to keep out Andrew Mangan's curling effort before Elliot Benyon came on for Dave Winfield, with Gary Waddock opting for a three-man defence against Town's one-man attack.

Ibe was one of the livelier sparks in the visiting attack, wriggling his way into several shooting opportunities, but still Wycombe were unable to force a save of any real note from Scott Davies.

And they were punished when Fleetwood doubled their lead completely against the run of play on 80 minutes. Scott Donnelly was fouled in the build-up - and referee Andy Haines had the whistle in his mouth before changing his mind - but play continued and Jamie Vardy latched on to a through-ball before firing home confidently.

Elliot Benyon missed a golden chance to pull one back with four minutes left when he turned Scott Rendell's cross past the post from six yards, before Stuart Lewis' volley from 18 yards went straight down the keeper's throat and Rendell's cushioned effort floated narrowly wide with Davies beaten.

Any late goal would have been in vain as Town held on for their victory and left Wycombe to focus solely on hauling themselves away from relegation danger in League 1.