Football: Wycombe's wonders waver at the last

WYCOMBE WANDERERS were last night minutes away from producing the upset of the Cup, writes Owen Slot. The Third Division side were chasing a 3-0 deficit to Coventry City, they caught up, took the match into extra-time and when a 25-yard free-kick from Jason Cousins put them 4-0 up, Coventry were staring at another cup disaster to add to their collection.

But weary Wanderers legs declared Wycombe unable to match the past feats of Scarborough, Cambridge United and Sutton United. Opportunist goals in the 111th and 117th minutes from Steve Morgan and Phil Babb rescued Coventry, silencing a pulsating Adams Park.

Taking a 4-1 lead away to Notts County did not mean a quiet performance from Newcastle. A Malcolm Allen brace stole the initial limelight, Peter Beardsley then scored his first since his return to Newcastle, and Andy Cole contributed a late, but familiar show-stealer by knocking in a hat-trick.

Wimbledon and Portsmouth swept away lower-division opposition, beating Hereford United and Rotherham United 4-1 and 5-0. Portsmouth's Daryl Powell and Rotherham's Chris Wilder were sent off for fighting in the game at Fratton Park. Two extra-time goals dealt Peterborough victory over Barnsley; Wolves were chasing a 2-0 deficit to Swindon at Molineux, struck twice in the last 10 minutes but were knocked out by an earlier goal by Nicky Summerbee.