Parrott cannot stop a repeat for Wycombe
ASECOND League One play-off final in three seasons for Wycombe, but MK Dons were left wondering how they had missed out.
They dominated most of the game at Stadium MK, but all they had to show for it was Troy Parrott’s header in the first half.
So Wycombe’s dream of a return to the Championship at the first time of asking remains alive — and they will face the winner of tonight’s Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland clash at Wembley on May 21.
MK Dons came within inches of halving the deficit within 65 seconds of the kick-off when Harry Darling’s header from a Scott Twine corner looped against the bar.
Wycombe goalkeeper David Stockdale then had to prevent Theo Corbeanu’s cross sneaking in at his near post before Twine shot wide when wellpositioned in the opposition penalty area.
It was part of a frantic start by the Dons and they had another half-chance when Dan Harvie flicked a header wide from Twine’s free-kick.
The breakthrough they deserved came after 26 minutes when Hiram Boateng’s ball into the box picked out Parrott coming around the back and his header looped in over Stockdale.
Twine then threatened twice from free-kicks in quick succession, first forcing Stockdale to tip over before sending another
effort into the side-netting. The hosts continued to press after the restart, and it took a brilliant last-ditch challenge from Wycombe captain Joe Jacobson to get in the way of Parrott’s effort. Stockdale then came to Wycombe’s rescue again when he produced a terrific save to keep out a vicious effort from Corbeanu.
Having hardly threatened at all, Wycombe almost came up with a sucker-punch when midfielder Dominic Gape shot wide from just outside the box.
The chances had finally started to dry up for the Dons, who brought on striker Connor Wickham as time started to run out. Ten minutes after his arrival, Wickham headed Kaine Kesler Hayden’s cross over the bar before Stockdale had one more save to pull off, from Parrott in stoppage time, as Wycombe held on.
‘It’s a huge relief,’ said Wycombe’s rock star boss, Gareth Ainsworth. ‘MK Dons were superb. But my boys were resolute, unbelievable. I’m so proud to be taking these boys to Wembley.’