Bristol Rovers 1 Wycombe Wanderers 2

Last updated : 09 August 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Two goals early in the second half put Wycombe on the way to a comfortable away win. Kevin Betsy and evergreen Tom Mooney were the scorers as they ripped into an uncertain home defence.

Rovers had four goals put past them by Peterborough on Saturday and once again came under pressure from the start.

Wycombe were helped by early fouls on Betsy. Chris Palmer put the first free kick deep into the box where Craig Disley kicked it to safety.

From a similar position on the right Stefan Oakes took the second kick curling a direct shot a yard wide of the near post.

In a show of confidence Rovers had made only one change, Lewis Haldane who had replaced Stuart Campbell at half time in the opening game holding his place.

He put in a couple of beefy runs down the right but it was Wycombe and Betsy in particular who dictated the flow of the game.

The nerves were there in several faultless home tackles and James Hunt probably felt himself fortunate to be let off with a talking to when he bowled over Palmer in full stride.

Veteran Mooney who will be celebrating his 35th birthday on Friday then twice failed to beat the offside flag but suddenly Rovers were in the game.

It all began with Will Antwi impeding Junior Agogo in front of goal at 22 yards out.

Wycombe had to kick away but Sammy Igoe from the right got in a strong volley which was not far wide.

Anthony Grant was briskly breaking up Rovers raids once covering 15 yards to get in a tackle on Agogo who was desperately needing better service than he was getting.

But it was a sequence of defensive boobs which left Rovers chasing the game five minutes after the break. From the halfway line Oakes swung over a long ball which bypassed the midfield and fell to the right of goal.

No-one in the back line reacted and Matt Bloomfield who should have been shut down by Steve Elliott had time to spare for his cross to Betsy.

Rovers new keeper Steve Phillips was not at all pleased to fish the ball from his net for the fifth time in two matches.

There was more to follow but nine minutes later Palmer on the left got in a decent cross which Mooney finished with an immaculate chip into the top left hand corner.

Rovers sent on two subs to give them width and this sparked a mini revival which saw James Hunt drive a 15 yard shot into the top of the net.