Football: Wanderers on course

Carlisle United. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

Wycombe Wanderers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

A PITCH invasion almost ruined the result for Wycombe Wanderers in this Third Division play-off, the referee Brian Hill ignoring some five minutes of injury time and bringing the players off early.

As it is they go into Wednesday's second leg having done much of the hard work. Steve Thompson scored the first goal in the 33rd minute, after a cross from Dave Titterton. However, Carlisle, with the wind behind them in the second half, had scoring chances. In the 50th minute Jason Cousins denied Dean Walling and 20 minutes later, Paul Hyde, fisted out a Jamie Robinson shot, and Simon Davey's shot went inches wide.

Wycombe doubled their advantage four minutes from the end, Thompson racing down the left to place the ball in front of Simon Garner, who easily beat the keeper Tony Caig.

Carlisle United: Caig; Joyce, Gallimore, Walling, Reddish, Robinson, Thomas, Rouse (Burgess, 72), Reeves, Davey, Arnold. Substitutes not used: Murray, Elliott (gk).

Wycombe Wanderers: Hyde; Cousins, Titterton, Crossley, Creaser, Ryan, Carroll, Thompson, Reid, Garner, Guppy. Substitutes not used: Brown, Hemmings, Moussaddik (gk).

Referee: B Hill (Kettering).