Wycombe Wanderers have been promoted to League One after a thrilling 2-1 win over Chesterfield at the Proact Stadium.
Dominic Gape was the hero for Wanderers when his 76th minute strike flew into the net via the aid of a slight deflection to send the Blues fans into a frenzy.
Chesterfield gave a very good account of themselves and took the lead on 38 minutes when Bradley Barry’s shot hit the post and cannoned back in off the unlucky Michael Harriman.
The dangerous Nathan Tyson, however, gave the Chairboys a vital equaliser right on half-time after some wizardry from Luke O’Nien allowed Tyson to turn the ball home smartly.
Wycombe made a bright start to the game with Tyson getting a shot away after 10 seconds but the strike went harmlessly over the bar.
Matt Bloomfield had half a chance on six minutes when he turned smartly inside the Chesterfield area but dragged his effort wide.
The Blues were in the ascendency early on with Tyson’s pace, causing real problems for the Spireites.
The jet-heeled winger made a 60-yard run on eight minutes, with his cross just evading Craig Mackail-Smith.
A minute later, Randell Williams’ excellent cross found Tyson, but he headed across goal with no-one following up.
Scott Brown then produced a magnificent with Chesterfield’s first effort on 18 minutes when Joe Rowley’s thunderbolt was tipped brilliantly over by the Wanderers keeper.
Joe Jacobson almost scored a fabulous free kick on 23 minutes when his fiercely struck shot was well saved by Aaron Ramsdale.
The home side still had some threat going forward and Kristian Dennis headed straight at Brown on 27 minutes after a good cross from Drew Talbot.
Jerome Binnom-Williams had an opportunity on 37 minutes when he met Rowley’s delivery but Michael Harriman did enough to put him off.
However, a minute later, Bradley Barry stretched the Chairboys’ backline and his shot cannoned back off the post and bounced in off the unfortunate Harriman.
The Chairboys responded quickly and got an equaliser right on the stroke of half-time when brilliant play by Luke O’Nien saw he produced a wicked cross that the dangerous Tyson turned home to send the Blues fans into pandemonium.
Sido Jombati came so close to giving Wanderers the lead on 47 minutes when his brilliant header from Jacobson’s corner was magnificently tipped wide by Ramsdale.
Wycombe were knocking on the door and Tyson nearly got on the end of Jombati’s vicious low cross on 52 minutes but Ramsdale just held on.
Ian Evatt’s team were giving a good account of themselves despite their relegation confirmed earlier this week, Binnom-Williams heading just wide on 59 minutes.
Mackail-Smith had a wonderful chance on 69 minutes to put the Blues into the lead when O’Nien put a delightful ball over the top and sent the former Posh man through.
His first touch was just a tad too heavy and Ramsdale smothered bravely at his feet.
Wanderers were just beginning to up the tempo again and Cowan-Hall was a lick of paint away from a second goal with a superb curling effort from 20 yards.
The workmanlike Mackail-Smith teed up Tyson for a shot on 74 minutes but the strike flew over Ramsdale’s crossbar.
Dominic Gape then gave Wanderers the moment they craved on 76 minutes when he picked up the loose ball on the edge of the box and lashed a shot which was deflected home to send the supporters into a frenzy.
The Spireites showed they still possessed a threat when Rowley picked up on Jombati’s poor header and crashed his effort onto the bar on 79 minutes.
With Exeter and County losing, the Blues supporters celebrated wildly at the final whistle with this being a deserved promotion for Gareth Ainsworth and his squad.
WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Brown, Harriman, El-Abd, Jombati, Jacobson, Gape, O’Nien, Bloomfield (sub: Saunders, 86), Williams (sub: Cowan-Hall, 66), Tyson, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Akinfenwa, McGinley, Kashket, Bean.
CHESTERFIELD: Ramsdale, Binnom-Williams (sub: Ugwu, 70), Talbot, Dodds (sub: Brown, 86), Dennis, Nelson, Reed, Barry, Maguire, Smith, Rowley. Subs: Anyon, McCourt, Sinnott, Whitmore, Brown, Weir.
REFEREE: Anthony Backhouse
ATTENDANCE: 5,679 (Wycombe 1,131)
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