Wycombe Wanderers secured second division football for next year and completed their final home game of the season in a manner that has typified their season: disappointing.

Lawrie Sanchez's side have failed to live up to the expectations of the Adam's Park crowd this year, but the fans hoped to finish on a high by beating old rivals Colchester United, and in turn do the double over the Layer Road side for the first time having beaten them 1-0 earlier this season.

The game started in a less frantic and exciting manner as the fans may have hoped for. The Wycombe fans were in full voice and high on optimism and after a while it seemed as if the match might liven up. Wycombe's Danny Senda was in the form that has seen him selected as Wycombe's second best player this season, and forced Colchester's goalkeeper Richard McKinney into a good stop after 12 minutes.

Frank Talia was announced in third place in the player of the season awards before the game, and showed Dean Morgan why as he dived to his left to tip the midfielder's curler around the post.

Karl Duguid also saw his effort well saved by Talia and Kem Izzet fired wide as Colchester ended the half as the more threatening attacking force. However, Wycombe's central defensive partnership of Roger Johnson and Andy Thomson seemed capable of breaking down most of their moves.

The second half began with more play in Wycombe's defensive third as United tried to break through. The Chairboy's supporters' early optimism had now all but died and frustration set in as the Blues play became predictable and unimaginative. Player of the season Michael Simpson's set pieces were unusually poor and there seemed little chance of the home side breaking through by their own methods. The withdrawal of playmaker Darren Currie seemed to indicate Sanchez's intent on winning the ball off the well-organised Colchester midfield.

McKinney denied Johnny Dixon midway through the half but overall, Wycombe didn't cause the keeper and problems. In contrast at the other end, Colchester nearly won the game when Izzet met Duguid's corner with power, only to see his header crash against the woodwork. Alan White followed up but Andy Thomson superbly blocked his effort

The match ended with some boos from the home support and few stayed for the player's show of appreciation to the fans. Colchester will be pleased to have bounced back from a 5-0 mauling at home by Luton Town on Monday and having once looked in danger of relegation to Division Three, will be delighted to finish in the top half of a tough league. Wanderers, in contrast, will be relieved to have survived after an odd season. Playing for confidence and pride will be on the agenda for the final game against Plymouth next Saturday.

Wycombe: Talia, Senda, Vinnicombe, Thomson, Johnson, Currie, Ryan, Simpson, Harris, Bulman, Dixon.

Subs: Roberts, Cook, Simpemba, Williams, Oliver.

Colchester: McKinney, Stockley, Edwards, Fitzgerald, White, Pinault, Duguid, Izzet, Morgan, Bowry, McGleish.

Subs: Canham, Baldwin, May, Gerken, Stockwell.

Referee: B Curson (Leicestershire)

Att: 6283

April 28, 2003 09:30