Wycombe Wanderers 3, Notts County 1 - at Adams Park

Lawrie Sanchez's side came from behind to notch their third straight win after being stung into action by a goal from old boy Mark Stallard on Friday night, October 6.

The former Wycombe marksman gave County an 18th minute lead after making a fool out of defender Jamie Bates.

Bates, who had arrived at the ground late after being snarled up in M25 Friday night traffic jams, looked as though he still had the handbrake on as Stallard raced past him in the outside lane before cutting along the byline to squeeze the ball from the tightest of angles between goalkeeper Martin Taylor's legs.

It was no more than a bright County side deserved against a Wycombe outfit who looked as if they they had been caught up in the hullabaloo of BBC Watchdog and Lionel Richie broadcasting live from the ground before the kick off.

Pop superstar Richie sang his latest single Angel from the Woodlands bar and the musical legend, who had earlier walked around the pitch shaking the hands of fans, would not have been impressed by an out-of-tune Wanderers in the opening stages, if he had stayed to watch.

With right back Mark Rogers away on international duty with Canada and Mo Harkin part of the Northern Ireland under-21 squad beaten 3-0 by Denmark, Wanderers were forced into changes.

Attacker Jermaine McSporran dropped into the midfield and teenager Ben Townsend came in for only his second ever match at right back and it took time for the team to gel.

But just two minutes after Stallard had given Notts the lead, Wanderers drew level. Alex Dyer cleared Andy Rammell's header off the line and in the ensuing melee Andy Baird forced the ball over the line. Six minutes later Baird played a painful and final part in the game as Wycombe took the lead.

He injured himself winning the ball in the move that saw Rammell bring the ball down on the far post before steering it home after nervous keeper Lindley woefully misjudged the cross. Rammell is pictured celebrating that goal.

Lindley had a right to look nervous. The teenager conceded five on his debut at Walsall a week earlier and here he was conceding two in the space of half-a-dozen minutes.

He recovered and, in the second half particularly, kept the score down when he denied McSporran at close range.

But he was beaten again 11 minutes from time as Wycombe made the game safe. Substitute Danny Senda's cross appeared to be going out of play but Steve Brown somehow pulled it back into the path of defender Paul McCarthy who walked the ball into an empty net.

Afterwards boss Lawrie Sanchez said: "We didn't play as well as we have been playing. It was a night when we ground out a result. We've got to take credit for that, good teams grind out results as well as win games. We were missing two players and we showed a lot of character to come back.

"We missed a bit of link-up play and they caused us problems by changing their shape. Notts are a better side than their league position and once they get going they will finish in the top eight."

Sanchez also praised rookie right back Townsend after his home debut, which ended with the youngster picking up the sponsors man of the match award.

Sanchez said: "Ben has done very well. I thought he looked very competent while at the other end Rammell led the line well and created havoc in their defence."

Wycombe: Taylor, Townsend, Vinnicombe, McCarthy, Bates McSporran (Castledine 71), Bulman (Cousins 83), Simpson, Brown, Rammell, Baird (Senda 30). Subs not used: Lee, Brady. Notts County: Lindley, Hughes (Rammage 46), Fenton, Warren, Pearce, Hamilton, Bolland (Farrell 72), Owers, Dyer, Joseph, Stallard. Subs not used: McDermott, Jacobson, Liburd. Attendance: 5,080 (188 Notts)