Wycombe Wanderers comfortably beat Halifax Town 4-0 in the FA Cup first round

Garry Thompson scored early on before second half strikes from Sido Jombati, Max Kretzschmar and Aaron Amdi-Holloway completed the scoring.

The result sees wanderers continue in the cup and as they attempt to reach the third round for the first time in Gareth Ainsworth’s tenure.

Wanderers were well worth their win and had chances to increase the lead throughout the game.

After an impeccably observed minutes silence in honour of Remembrance Sunday the game started at a hectic pace with Wanderers asserting an early dominance.

Thompson had the first chance to threaten the Halifax goal but dallied on the ball and could only send a cross across the face of goal from a tight angle in the sixth minute.

A neat piece of interplay between Paul Hayes and Jombati allowed the right-back to strike at goal from the edge of the box, but his left footed effort was straight at Town’s Russell Griffiths.

Hayes fired over moments later as the League Two side continued to pressurise their Vanarama National League opponents.

They got their reward in the 17th minute as a cross from the right was flicked on by Luke O’Nien and Thompson ghosted in unmarked to volley home at the back post.

It was the striker’s fourth goal of the season and the Blues were well worth their lead after a confident start.

Thompson could have doubled the lead just four minutes later after a sloppy piece of defending left him in space in the box but he drilled a low left-footed effort just wide.

A mistimed tackle from Hayes presented Town with a chance to get the ball into the box, and with nobody making contact with a long punt Matt Ingram sprung to his right to save acrobatically as the ball skipped off the soaking turf.

After starting with such fluidity Wanderers produced little in the final 20 minutes of the first half as the game became scrappy and both sides struggled in possession.

Hayes headed over from the centre of the penalty box at the end of a first half that produced little to worry the visiting side.

O’Nien found himself in space at the start of the second period and as he bore down on goal had a great chance to release either Hayes or Thompson.

However, the midfielder instead opted to shoot when a pass would have been the better option and his tame effort was easily stopped.

A long clearance from Pierre bounced kindly and the ever dangerous Thompson broke through on goal but his volleyed effort was well blocked by Griffiths on 54 minutes.

The Chairboys were now causing repeated problems for the home side and Sam Wood went close to making it 2-0.

The winger was cleverly played in by Hayes but his shot was well smothered as he attempted to round the keeper.

Just a minute later Thompson was inches from scoring again as he powered past O’Brien and fired a low shot against the base of the right-hand post.

Wanderers were not to be denied just after the hour though as Jombati raced forward from right-back to score his first goal for the club with a brilliant strike.

The long range effort was a stunning way to open his account for Wycombe and a fair reward for the Blues dominant start to the second half.

Ingram, who had been largely a spectator, produced a stunning one on one save a few minutes later to maintain the two goal lead.

Halifax grew into the game more after the second goal had been scored and enjoyed more possession in the Wanderers’ half but couldn’t find an end product.

With just over five minutes left Substitute Kretzschmar scored a well taken effort to put the game beyond Town.

A delightful through ball from Sam Wood put Amadi-Holloway in to score his second in two games in injury time and complete the rout with a simple finish.

Wanderers do not play competitively for a fortnight but will hope to take their new found form, which sees them now undefeated in their last three games, into Friday’s friendly with Leeds United at Adams Park.

Wycombe Wanderers: Ingram; Jomabati, Pierre, McCarthy, Jacobson, Bloomfield (Kretzschmar 65), O’Nien, Bean, Wood, Thompson (Ugwu 87), Hayes (C) (Amadi-Holloway 65)

Subs not used: Lynch, Stewart, Sellers

Halifax Town: Griffiths; Bolton, O’Brien, N Brown, McManus, Miller (C) (Tuton 58), Wroe, Roberts (Sadlier 74), James, Walker, Burrow

Subs not used: Glennon; Macdonald, Hattersley, Bencherif, M Brown

Bookings: Hayes (24 mistimed tackle on Wroe) Bloomfield (66 late tackle)

Attendance: 1,789 (Wanderers 249)

Referee: Graham Salisbury