Emotions got the better of Ainsworth after sealing promotion

Posted Sunday, April 29, 2018 by PA

Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth revealed he was overcome by emotion when his team clinched promotion to League One with a 2-1 win at relegated Chesterfield.

Ainsworth and his players celebrated with 1,100 travelling fans after they came from behind with Dominic Gape scoring his first goal of the season to seal victory.

Chesterfield pushed Wycombe all the way and went ahead when Bradley Barry’s low shot came back off the inside of a post and went in off Michael Harriman in the 39th minute.

But Wycombe always looked dangerous and they punished defensive failings in first half stoppage time with Nathan Tyson turning in a cross at the near post.

Aaron Ramsdale saved from Craig Mackail-Smith in the 69th minute but Wycombe were not be be denied and when a corner was only half cleared, Gape drove in a shot which was deflected into the roof of the net.

There were wild scenes of celebration at the final whistle and Ainsworth said : “I am so, so proud of these boys. It was nothing more than we deserved, we were gritty we dug in and thankfully we got the win. Now it’s Sunderland away next year which I am so looking forward to.

“I was nearly in tears if I’m being totally honest. I’m an emotional guy and I’ve always said that could be my downfall one day. I’m honest and emotional and I can’t change who I am.

“I said that to the boys before the game, I may as well cut my hair off and pretend to be someone else. But I’m not, I’m me and I feel every kick, every shout of every crowd and every moment I feel it with the boys.

“It’s a feeling you can’t buy, you can’t bottle and I’ll never forget it. I’m so thankful to the boys for doing the job today, they were brilliant.”

For Chesterfield caretaker boss Ian Evatt, who took over when Jack Lester left this week, it was a familiar story. “It’s fine margins of football, simple as that.

“We had the better chances but when you are down at the bottom you don’t quite get the rub of the green. In the second half we switched off at a set piece but other than that, there wasn’t a great deal in the game.

“It’s a harsh learning curve and one we’ve got to improve on very quickly . We didn’t deserve to lose but seeing them celebrate on our pitch has got to hurt, as simple as that.”