Ecstatic Colchester manager Phil Parkinson's reactions on the final whistle summed-up perfectly his players' tremendous display in this match - the last backs-to-the-wall 40 minutes of it with only ten men at that.
On target again - Wayne Andrews
This was a night for heroes and big characters and in goalkeeper Simon Brown, skipper Scott Fitzgerald and his central defensive partner Liam Chilvers, plus lightning fast goal-ace Wayne Andrews, Parky boasted four of the best.
They were simply fantastic, as was Lancashire referee Michael Ryan and the rest of the U's team weren't far behind them either.
Two unbelievable goals - scored by Andrews and Rowan Vine - in as many minutes; a Darren Currie spot-kick for Wycombe; three sendings-off Andy Myers (U's), substitute Stuart Roberts and central defender Mark Johnson (Wycombe), plus an endless supply of drama and incident, left the enthusiastic fans with barely time to blink.
The U's probably played some of their best football to date this season and once they got started it was non-stop action all the way.
26 mins 1-0 Brown launched a long free-kick deep into Wanderers' half.
Scott McGleish helped the ball into Andrews' path on the right and the former Oldham marksman crashed an unstoppable shot just inside flying keeper Frank Talia's left-hand post.
It was Andrews fourth goal in five matches.
27 mins 2-0 Referee Ryan played a great advantage after Andrews was clattered deep in his own half by Chris Vinnicombe.
Thomas Pinault and Kemal Izzet played the ball out to Vine on the left and the Portsmouth loanee cut in and unleashed a vicious right-foot shot which soared into the net off the underside of the bar.
50 mins 2-1 Myers fouled half-time substitute Gavin Holligan in the box and Currie sent Brown the wrong way from the penalty spot.
55 mins U's were reduced to ten men as Myers' nightmare match was completed by a red card after he pulled down Currie.
82 mins Brown pulled out three unbelievable acrobatic saves in quick succession to keep out two blockbusters from Holligan and one from Vinnicombe.
91 mins Wycombe were reduced to ten men as substitute Stuart Roberts, who had only been on the pitch four minutes, launched a savage challenge on Kemal Izzet.
94 mins Wanderers were reduced to nine men in the fourth minute of injury time after referee Ryan spotted Johnson deliberately trip Izzet as he broke through.
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Published Wednesday September 17, 2003
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