By Ross Jeavons
Wycombe Wanderers' second string made it seven games without defeat on Wednesday afternoon, with a resounding three one victory over Crystal Palace at Adams Park.
19-year-old Robbie Rice capped an impressive display by bagging a brace, after Derek Duncan had opened the scoring for the Wanderers.
Ian Culverhouse opted for an intriguing 4-3-3 formation for the Blues, with Duncan and Matty Phillips playing as wingers either side of prolific young striker Daniel Fitchett.
Andre Boucaud acted as an anchorman in midfield, giving Rice and Steven Gregory licence to roam.
The tactics appeared to click straight away, as Steven Gregory lashed a half volley over the bar from twenty five yards.
It was the home side that dominated most of the possession, though Palace did almost take the lead themselves after twenty minutes of play.
Will Antwi appeared to be fouled on the edge of the area by Kieran Djilali, however referee Mr Sheldrake waved play on and Nathan Ashton was only denied by some top defending from Tom Cadmore and James Reading.
It was the Chairboys though who would take the lead with half an hour gone, as Matt Phillips bombed down the right hand side before sending a tantalising cross into the area.
Derek Duncan made no mistake, reacting well to poke the ball past Arnold in the Palace goal.
From then on the floodgates started to open, with Robbie Rice and Derek Duncan both sending pot shots just wide of the post.
It wasn't before Robbie would get his reward, all be it from the penalty spot.
Centre back Tom Cadmore burst forward from the centre of the park before playing a neat one-two with the young midfielder - and then saw his progress halted as he was hauled down just inside the area.
Rice had already dispatched a penalty against Southampton earlier in the season and he made no mistake again, showing great composure to roll the ball calmly past Arnold into the centre of the net.
It was only a matter of seconds before he had his brace, taking advantage of some indecision from the Palace keeper to stab the ball home from six yards out.
The visitors went in at the break shell shocked, and never really recovered from that nightmare end to the first period.
They did find themselves with more possession in the second half, however couldn't quite find the killer touch that Wycombe had exhibited so well earlier in the game.
England youth international Nathan Ashton, who is on loan to the Championship side from Fulham, was the shining light for the Eagles - displaying some marvellous trickery on the left wing.
He sent in a teasing cross for Ashley Robinson ten minutes in, though the striker's header was well tipped over by Reading in the Wycombe goal.
With Andre Boucaud, Scott Shulton and Darrell Ellams all limping off with injuries the Wanderers were forced to see out the last twenty minutes of the game with ten men, and perhaps it showed as legs began to tire in the closing stages.
It was the impressive Ashton who took advantage, pegging one back for Palace with a neat individual effort twelve minutes before the end.
He showed quick feet to cut inside the penalty area, before sending a stinging shot into the top right hand corner of the goal.
Reading got a hand to it, but was powerless to stop the 21-year-old giving the Eagles some hope for the remaining stages.
Thankfully for Ian Culverhouse's side it wasn't to be, as they sealed three points in their last Pontin's Holiday Combination game of the season at Adams Park.
Their last league game will be the rearranged fixture away to Brighton and Hove Albion, before they close the season with the Berks & Bucks Final at Adams Park on May 5th, against Chesham United.
A victory in that competition would be a fine reward for a young Chairboys' side who have performed admirably in an extremely tough division this season.
