BORO BLOW IT IN LAST MINUTE
STEVENAGE manager Graham Westley insisted a draw was the right result, despite seeing his side miss a 97th-minute penalty that would have earned all three points.
Boro had to come back from 1-0 down after Millwall loanee Fred Onyedinma scored Wycombe’s opener, latching onto Paul Hayes’ through ball.
But Chris Whelpdale whipped in a cross for Tom Pett to equalise and Dean Parrett gave Stevenage the lead at half-time when he fired a low free-kick past Matt Ingram.
And there was late drama when Onyedinma made it 2-2, Chris Beardsley was sent off for a second bookable offence and Ingram saved Parrett’s penalty at the death.
Westley, 46, was disappointed Parrett had failed to convert the late chance but believed the draw was still a boost to their chances of grabbing a play-off spot.
“It was terrific to earn the penalty and so much of a disap- pointment not to score but over the course of the game I don’t think we can say we deserved a win,” Westley conceded.
“On occasions you have to dig in and show grit and determination and play for the point as we did .
“My players attacked it as best they could, they defended for their lives when the moments were there.
“After getting hammered by them at home I think we showed some progress about where we’re at.”
Wycombe had dominated early on and led after ten minutes when Onyedinma took the ball round Sam Beasant to score his third goal in three games.
But Wanderers seemed to lose their way as the first half progressed and Stevenage staged a stunning comeback with Pett’s header and Parrett’s free-kick giving them the lead at half-time.
It was then the Chairboys turn to throw everything at Boro as they tried desperately to get back on level terms.
And their attempts were rewarded when Onyedinma headed in his second from Joe Jacobson’s corner.
Beardsley picked up a second yellow for a foul on Sido Jombati and was sent for an early bath, yet Stevenage nearly won it when Alfie Mawson took down Ben Kennedy in the last minute of injury time, but Parrett fluffed his lines.
Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth accepted his side had Ingram to thank for keeping them in the game.
“We bossed the second half but it goes to show, if you have one lapse of concentration you can concede a penalty,” the former QPR player explained.
“In my opinion we’ve got the best keeper in League Two and he’s come up trumps, I thought it was a brilliant save.
“The lads are down in there but I’ve said don’t be disappointed because the performance is what I’m pleased with.
“I’ve said we’re going for promotion, so it’s a good point for us with the top two slipping up and it’s going to be very tight up there between now and the end of the season.”