WANDERERS HELD BY HORNETS
Posted on: Wed 09 Sep 2009
The Chairboys were held to a score draw by a young and spirited Watford side at Oak Tree Road on Tuesday evening, despite a well worked goal by Stuart Beavon handing Junior Lewis' men the lead early in the game.
Wycombe fielded an extremely strong line up with numerous first team stars on show, and the experience showed as the home side dominated the early exchanges.
On loan Leicester youngster Ashley Chambers was the instigator to the opener, dashing down the left wing before crossing for Beavon to lash home.
Roles were reversed on the half hour mark as delicate work from Beavon set Chambers up in the six yard box, but a brave stop from Hornets 'keeper Jonathan North kept the visitors in the game.
It proved crucial as Watford came out the brighter side after the break, eventually leveling proceedings after 62 minutes. Liam Henderson headed Jordan Parkes' whipped cross against the bar, but Matt Sadler reacted quickest to drive home the equaliser.
The Hornets rattled the woodwork again before the final whistle and a draw on the night was a fair result from a neutral point of view, as the Chairboys avoided defeat on the opening evening of the Totesport Combination.
Keep it wwfc.com for more or see below for a full clockwatch of the evening's action.
Advertisement
Subs: Harrold, Moncur (Hunt 57), Westlake, Fitchett (Beavon 45), Phillips
Watford: North, Parkes, Travner, Brooks, Oshodi, Bennett, Young, Sadler, Sordell, Henderson, Gibson
Subs: Penny, Irving, Whichelow, Yiadom, Mingoia
FULL TIME
90 mins: Wasn't a terrible effort from Spence, but it still flies a yard or so over the bar.
90 mins: One minute of time added on and the Wanderers have a free-kick in a dangerous position, 20-yards from goal
87 mins: A long range effort from Hornets sub Cole Penny is well held by Young.
84 mins Smart save by Jamie Young.Some lapse defending allowed Liam Henderson to nip in behind the back four, but the Aussie stopper shows good reactions to toe the ball away.
82 mins: The Chairboys front two have found themselves manhandled at times this evening. Chambers is dragged to the floor on the left wing, earning the home side a free kick. Pack's curling set piece is easily gathered by the goalie.
78 mins: There's a tangible ebb and flow to this game, the Blues have been on top in the last five minutes.
75 mins: Now the Chairboys test the keeper. Leon Johnson must have had a nosebleed as he atacked the edge of the Watford box, before working the ball to Chambers. The young forward doesn't hit it cleanly and sees it gathered easily.
73 mins: Smarter stuff from Junior Lewis' side,some quick interplay between Chambers and Betsy finds room, but results only in a throw in.
71 mins: Solid defending by LJ but he can only concede a corner, The Wanderers look organised though, and clear their lines.
69 mins: Still Wycombe are finding it difficult to find their feet since the break, this young Hornets side are pretty dynamic.
66 mins: Watford rattle the crossbar from that set-piece, Gibson's effort was fizzing and dipping but a small but crucial diving touch from 'Youngy' diverts the effort onto the woodwork.
65 mins: Free kick to the Hornets in a very dangerous position, right on the edge of the D and dead central.
62 mins: GOAL! Watford are back in it. A dangerous cross from Jordan Parks is headed against the crossbar by Liam Henderson, but as the Blues react slowest to the rebound Matt Sadler is able to tap home to make it 1-1.
59 mins: Another sub for the Blues. That's a helpful run out for Lewis Hunt after his return from injury. He is replaced by TJ Moncur.
57 mins: Not sure how we didn't get a shot away there. Good work from Betsy worked the ball across the box to Chambers, but the Foxes youngster struck nothing but air as the ball whizzed past him and awa from danger.
56 mins: Double sub for Watford, Brooks is replaced by Penny - whilst Young makes way for Mingoia.
55 mins: Set piece from the right hand side is well cleared again by the Blues back four. They looked ready to make a chance, as TJ Moncur pulls on his shirt.
52 mins: That was a fairly brutal challenge by Hornets centre back Eddie Oshodi, looked to be two footed on Lewis Montrose. The Blues midfielder is limping, but should be ok.
50 mins: Watford are looking brighter since the break, though can't quite phase this experienced Chairboys back line.
48 mins: Great play by Dan Fitchett to set up the first flowing move of the second period. He shows good tenacity to win the ball in midfield before releasing Chambers down the left, Lewwis Spence eventually picks up the play on the edge of the box but can only fire wildly over.
46 mins: We're underway again. One change at the break, the youngster Dan Fitchett is on to replace Stuart Beavon. 'Beaver' will be happy with his 45 minutes - some deft touches and a well taken goal.
HALF TIME
43 mins: Don't be surprised if we see some changes before the end of this game. The Blues have such a strong bench, featuring the likes of Matt Harrold and Matt Phillips, that it would be surprising if they are not used.
41 mins: Great defensive header from Chris Westwood, heading wide of his own goal under severe pressure in the six yard box. He also does well to clar the resulting corner.
38 mins: More good play from the Blues down this right hand side, this time forcing a corner from the left. Spence's initial cross is cleared before Montrose fires way wide with a half volley.
34 mins: Stuart Beavon's touch is superhuman at times! The plucky forward takes the ball down from the sky with a magical flick of the boot before dinking a pass into the area towards Chambers. The on-loan Leicester youngster is only denied by a brave, smart save from North.
32 mins: Best chance of the game for Watford. Lewis Young finds Marvin Sordell with a chipped through ball, but from the penalty spot the visiting striker can only twist and slice his shot way wide. Should have done better.
30 mins: Poor cross from Gibson. Straight over the bar.
29 mins: Strong challenge their by Lewwis Spence, you could hear the crunch from the stands. Free-kick awarded to the Hornets on the left hand side of the box. Crossing position
26 mins: Lewwis' corner is nodded down by Westwood, flicked on by Johnson but Marlon Pack can't quite connect to send it home from close range. Spence's delivery has looked good tonight.
25 mins: The visitors have shown good resilience since going behind, just about containing this lively looking Wanderers side. The Blues have another corner though, set to be taken by Lewwis Spence.
23 mins: Kevin Betsy shows his trademark deft touch on the edge of the area, but can only rocket the follow up way over the stand.
21 mins: Lewwis Spence whips in the free-kick, but it's easily gathered by the Hornets' 'keeper.
20 mins: Quick feet by Lewis Montrose win the home side a free-kick in a dangerous crossing position on the right hand side.
16 mins: That was the first poor piece of play from Wycombe. Chris Westwood and Leon Johnson got in a muddle, allowing the ball to fall at the feet of Billy Gibson on the edge of the area. Luckily the left winger's shot was easily gathered by Young.
13 mins: Wow, that would have been a superb goal. Lewwis Spence's probing pass found Stuart Beavon on the edge of the edge of the box, who clipped back for Lewis Montrose to unleash an almighty strike from 25 yards. It was moving at some speed and swerving all over the shop, but somehow Watford keeper Jonathan North palmed it down and away from goal.
11 mins: It's all Wycombe at the moment, still mainly coming down this right hand side. Betsy, Hunt and Beavon are looking like a dangerous trio.
9 mins: Strong defending by Leon Johnson there to nick the ball away from the Hornets striker from the set piece, before Lewis Hunt clears the second ball.
8 mins: It was a cool finish from 'Beavs' who has looked sharp in his fleeting first team appearances this season. The Blues follow that up with a dangerous Kevin Betsy cross that just drops wide of the far post, though Watford are pushing forward briefly as I speak with a corner kick.
6 mins: GOAL! The Chairboys take the lead with a swift breakaway. Ashley Chambers shows his pace on the left wing before driving in a low cross, alowing Stuart Beavon to smash home from close range. This Blues side could be lethal this evening if they continue to combine in that fashion.
4 mins : Plenty of noise coming from the Wycombe XI in the opening exchanges. The experience amongst this starting XI is obvious, with Chris Westwood and Lewis Hunt among the most vocal.
3 mins: Bright start for the Wanderers, particularly down the right wing where Betsy and Chambers combine early on.
1 mins: An extraordinarily strong team out here for the Blues at Oak Tree Road, a young Watford side will be in for a tough test. Stuart Beavon partners Ashley Chambers as the Chairboys take up a 4-4-2 formation. Kevin Betsy will build up some fitness on the right wing.
