Oxford United 1 : 2 Wycombe Wanderers - Chairboys sitting pretty

Posted Sunday, November 02, 2014 by PA

Wycombe survived a late penalty scare to win 2-1 against local rivals Oxford at the Kassam Stadium and go back to the top of the table.

The Chairboys were looking comfortable until Callum O'Dowda was bundled over in the box in stoppage-time, but Danny Hylton failed to convert his second spot-kick of the game, blazing high over the crossbar.

Wycombe had most of the play even in the first half, and were stunned when the referee awarded a penalty eight minutes before the break with Joe Jacobsen adjudged to have brought down Hylton.

The visitors protested strongly against the award, before Hylton picked himself up to convert the 37th-minute penalty for his 12th goal of the season, firing into the top-left corner despite Michael Ingram guessing right.

But Wycombe stormed back with two goals in nine minutes early in the second half.

Paul Hayes took advantage of a ricochet to bury a shot from 10 yards past Ryan Clarke on 53 minutes to make it 1-1.

And on 62 minutes, Peter Murphy headed what proved to be the winner, arriving from deep to meet Sam Wood's cross with a well-placed effort into the bottom-left corner.

Young substitute James Roberts brought a good save out of Ingham with a low angled shot late on, but Wanderers deserved their victory.