Wycombe Wanderers

Boss Gorman hails superb display
Wycombe manager John Gorman praised his side for their excellent performance in the 1-0 away victory against Grimsby which saw them go top of League Two. Gorman told the club's website: "It's matches like these you have to win if you're going to be top of the table. "It's wonderful for the team who were absolutely brilliant in this match. From the keeper all the way to the strikers, everyone was superb." Tommy Mooney's goal meant the Blues leapfrogged their opponents to go top.

WONDER SAVE BEWILDERS GORMAN
John Gorman heralded Boston goalkeeper Michel Kuipers as "like Gordon Banks" after the Dutchman made a great save to deny Tommy Mooney a winner in a 1-1 draw. The Chairboys' unbeaten record had looked under threat when they trailed at half-time to Francis Green's strike, but Danny Bloomfield levelled 19 minutes from time after Stewart Talbot's red card in first-half stoppage time. But Gorman was left wondering what might have been had Kuipers, on loan from Brighton, not kept Mooney's effort out. He said: "How the goalkeeper made that save from Tommy (Mooney) I don't know. He looked like Gordon Banks - it was the save of the season. "I don't want to moan and groan, but they played a rugby game here on Sunday and we're top of the league. It wasn't the pitch we'd like to play on. "We played some great football in the second half and I'm not disappointed but I'm not happy - I'm frustrated." Boston boss Steve Evans believes Talbot's dismissal robbed his side of a shock win. Referee Steve Dorr showed Pilgrims skipper Talbot his second yellow card for a clumsy tackle on Joe Burnell - but Evans' complaints hinged on his earlier booking. He said: "I've got to be careful what I say about the referee. Christmas is coming and I can't afford to get into any more trouble with the Football Association. "The FA can always watch the video of the game for a laugh. It's cost us a victory - Talbot has got his first yellow for asking 'What is that for?'. Granted the second one is a yellow. "The players were absolutely magnificent. I praised them to the roof afterwards. In the first 20 minutes Wycombe couldn't get near us."

Bowditch moves to Wycombe on loan
League Two leaders Wycombe have signed Ipswich striker Dean Bowditch in a three-month loan deal. Bowditch, 19, has not figured for Ipswich since the end of December but Town have included a re-call clause after his first 28 days at Wycombe. "Dean has not played much football here recently and asked to go out on loan," boss Joe Royle told Ipswich's website. "He will get the chance to play first-team football week-in, week-out and hopefully score a few goals."

Nethercott injury rocks Woking
On-loan Woking defender Stuart Nethercott will miss the next phase of the Cards' play-off push. Nethercott, who is on loan from Wycombe, injured a foot in last Saturday's win over Tamworth. It is not yet clear if the 32-year-old has a hairline fracture but he has been ruled out of the next two games. Meanwhile, boss Glenn Cockerill's hopes of watching Portsmouth's striker Joe Carter-Harris in a reserve game on Wednesday were dashed by the weather.

Gorman frustrated by Boston draw
Wycombe manager John Gorman felt his side deserved more than a single point from their 1-1 draw with Boston. "Their manager came up to me and said it was a joke that they were 1-0 up because we were battering them," Gorman said. "That's how honest he was. "We did not batter them by non-stop pressure but instead by good football. We controlled the game. "We have not come here to get a point, we have come to win from start to finish and that is what's frustrating."

Bowditch extends loan at Wycombe
Ipswich striker Dean Bowditch has extended his loan deal at Wycombe Wanderers by a further month. The 19-year-old initially signed a one-month deal in January and will now remain at the club until 28 March. Bowditch has made seven appearances for the second-placed Chairboys and has found the net on one occasion. On expiry of his current deal, Bowditch is expected to sign another contract that would see him stay at the Causeway Stadium until the end of the season.

Gorman back in Wycombe hot-seat
Wycombe assistant boss Steve Brown has confirmed that boss John Gorman has returned as manager of the Chairboys. Brown, along with coaches Keith Ryan and Jim Barron, has been in temporary charge of the League Two high-fliers following the death of Gorman's wife. But he confirmed that the Scot was back to oversee the club's promotion push. "He was back on Friday and he took the team on Saturday. He's back in the office and everything is business as usual," Brown told Sir Stanley.

'Pressing' tactics please Brown
Wycombe assistant manager Steve Brown felt "pressing" tactics were the key to the 2-0 win over Shrewsbury which keeps them joint top of League Two. Brown said: "It's one thing we've got better at this season, when we press in the right areas teams can't handle it. "Ian Stonebridge did that. He left his marker on his backside and raided down the left to cross. "Tommy Mooney headed down to Russell Martin who smashed in our second. It was a wonderful finish."

Wycombe 2-0 Shrewsbury
Goals from Russell Martin and Matt Bloomfield earned Wycombe a vital win over Shrewsbury. Good work by Tommy Mooney set Bloomfield up for the chance to score his fifth league goal of the season from inside the box. Mooney had a hand in the second, when his header was seized on by substitute Martin to fire home from close-range. The victory sees Wycombe draw level on points with Carlisle at the top of League Two. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wycombe: Talia, Senda, Johnson, Williamson, Easton, Bloomfield, Bowditch (Stonebridge 62), Lee, Oakes (Martin 62), Easter (Griffin 78), Mooney. Subs Not Used: Williams, Antwi. Goals: Bloomfield 15, Martin 73. Shrewsbury: Hart, Herd (Cowan 76), Hope, Burton, Ashton, Sorvel, McClen, Edwards, Stallard (Adaggio 40), Langmead, McMenamin. Subs Not Used: Cronin, Hogg, Sharp. Booked: Burton. Att: 5,035 Ref: A Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Wycombe v Torquay
Wycombe could be without three key players as they bid to replace Carlisle at the top of League Two. Joe Burnell and Sergio Torres are very doubtful, while Kevin Betsy will defintely miss out as he completes a two-game ban. Torquay will again be without on-loan Swansea striker Lee Thorpe, as he is in the middle of a three-match ban. Paul Robinson will keep his place alongside Tony Bedeau, who scored a vital winner against Peterborough.

Torquay deserved victory - Gorman
John Gorman bemoaned a bad day at the office after watching his promotion-chasing Wycombe side tumble to a 1-0 loss at home to lowly Torquay. "We had a bad day where it all went wrong," Gorman said. "The goal was poor. It was their only shot on target but they scored and it gave them something to hang on to. "They came with a game plan to defend and they deserved to win. We didn't create as much as we'd like and the goal came at a terrible time for us."

Leyton Orient 1-0 Wycombe
Leyton Orient moved above League Two promotion rivals Wycombe thanks to Paul Connor's first-half strike. Just six minutes had passed when Craig Easton broke down the right and sent over a cross which Connor rifled into the bottom left corner. Shortly afterwards, Orient's Michael Simpson unleashed a 25-yard thunderbolt that flashed past the post. Wycombe's Roger Johnson sent a point-blank volley just off target and the O's held firm to claim the win. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leyton Orient: Morris, Miller, Lockwood, Mackie, Zakuani, Corden (Barnard 71), Simpson, Easton, Keith, Alexander, Connor. Subs Not Used: Garner, Tann, Steele, Ibehre. Booked: Corden, Keith. Goals: Connor 6. Wycombe: Talia, Senda, Oakes, Johnson, Williamson, Betsy, Bloomfield, Bowditch (Easton 75), Lee (Easter 61), Stonebridge (Griffin 75), Mooney. Subs Not Used: Martin, Williams. Att: 6,720 Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).

Ryan given future role at Wycombe
Stalwart Keith Ryan has been assured he has a job at Wycombe Wanderers for next season. Ryan, 35 announced his retirement last week after 16 years at Wycombe because of problems with his knees. "I still don't now where my future lies amongst the whole structure of things," he told the club website. "But it's been guaranteed by (Wycombe director) Steve Hayes that he likes me involved. He has said there will a position here for me in some capacity." Ryan has not played for Wycombe's first team since April 2005 because of a serious knee injury. He has made over 517 appearances for Wycombe and now forms part of the management team with boss John Gorman and assistant Steve Brown. "I need to sit down and talk to John Gorman and Steve to map out where they see my future lying," he added. "That would be first class. "If I had announced that I wasn't to play football again and that I was going to have to leave the football club that would really break my heart. "Hopefully there might be an opportunity to stay and that's ultimately what I want."

Macclesfield v Wycombe
Macclesfield have no fresh injury concerns, with Clyde Wijnhard still recovering from a knee injury. Mark Bailey is out for the remainder of the season as he struggles with an Achilles problem. Wycombe will still be without Sergio Torres, who has missed the last five games with an ankle injury. Jermaine Easter will battle with Charlie Griffin for a starting spot alongside Tommy Mooney after scoring as a substitute against Bristol Rovers.

Macclesfield 2-1 Wycombe
Macclesfield eased their relegation fears with an impressive victory over promotion hopefuls Wycombe. Macc dominated the first half and went ahead when Paul Harsley scored from the spot after Marcus Richardson was brought down by keeper Frank Talia. The home side made it 2-0 when Martin Bullock's mazy run ended with a fine pass to Danny Whitaker who scored with a first time right-foot shot. Wycombe set up a nervy finish when sub Russell Martin netted from 20 yards. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macclesfield: Lee, Teague, Morley, Swailes, Sandwith, Harsley, Whitaker, McIntyre, Bullock, McNeil, Richardson. Subs Not Used: Fettis, Townson, Miles, Brightwell, Navarro. Booked: Harsley, Bullock. Goals: Harsley 39 pen, Whitaker 53. Wycombe: Talia, Senda, Johnson, Antwi, Easton (Easter 56), Betsy, Burnell, Bloomfield (Stonebridge 69), Oakes, Griffin (Martin 69), Mooney. Subs Not Used: Williams, Williamson. Goals: Martin 86. Att: 1,869. Ref: N Miller (Durham).

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