CHAIRBOYS ARE JUBILANT AS GAPE CLINCHES PROMOTION
Gareth’s troops take the step up
DOMINIC Gape struck as Wycombe clinched promotion to League One with victory over relegated Chesterfield.
Midfielder Gape grabbed the decisive goal 15 minutes from time after Nathan Tyson had wiped out the Spireites’ lead.
“I am so proud of these boys. The lads have been fantastic,” enthused Gareth Ainsworth after the game.
“Dominic Gape had a bit of a torrid game against Accrington – I took him off after 40 minutes last week – but he got the winning goal.
“It was nothing more than we deserved out there. We were gritty, we dug in.
“It’s Sunderland away next year, which I’m so looking forward to. It still hasn’t sunk in.”
Reflecting on his squad’s achievement, Ainsworth said: “They’ve all played their part. This is a team that’s smaller than a lot of clubs around us.”
“They [the fans] haven’t stopped singing since January or February. For us and Accrington to be in that top three – it’s turned the finances of League Two on its head.
“But consistency, a little bit of luck, and great fans have been the key this season.”
After a difficult week, the atmosphere at the Proact Stadium was subdued but a spirited home side limited Wycombe in an even first half.
The Spireites looked to strike on
the counter-attack, with Jerome Binnom-Williams breaking on the left to set up Louis Dodds, who forced Scott Brown into a fine save.
Wycombe’s first chance of note came from a set piece, as Aaron Ramsdale was at full stretch to tip wide a Joe Jacobson free-kick.
Chesterfield took the lead when Bradley Barry and Kristian Dennis robbed Adam El-Abd. Barry’s strike then cannoned off the far post and into the net off the retreating Michael Harriman.
However, the hosts’ joy was short-lived. After a sliced clearance from Ramsdale almost gifted a goal to Tyson, Luke O’Nien surged into the area and drilled the ball across the box, with Tyson flicking the ball into the opposite corner. The Chairboys dominated in the second half, with Sido Jombati’s free header from a corner drawing a fingertip save from Ramsdale. A simple ball over the top released Mackail-Smith, but Ramsdale spread himself well to deny the Scottish striker at his feet. Wycombe’s pressure eventually told when Gape’s strike from the edge of the area was deflected past a helpless Ramsdale to send the 1,132 visiting supporters into raptures. The hosts tried valiantly to fight back. Laurence Maguire hit the bar with a looping effort and Dodds planted a header just wide of the far post. However, Wycombe held on, sparking a jubilant pitch invasion from the visiting fans on the final whistle.
Caretaker boss Ian Evatt admitted there are some major challenges ahead for Chesterfield, who will be out of the Football League for the first time since 1921 next season.
“Seeing them celebrate on our pitch has got to hurt. This is just rubbing salt in the wounds,” he said.
“It’s obviously been a disaster of a season but we’ve got to try and change the mood somehow.
“For this club to be out of the Football League is an absolute travesty.
“This is a fantastic football club that should be in League One or the Championship.
“Lessons have got to be learned, both on and off the pitch.”