Richard Wright returned to action after his knee ligament injury but couldn’t prevent the reserves from losing 2-1 to Wycombe Wanderers at Playford Road on Wednesday afternoon. Man mountain defender Luke Oliver put the Chairboys in front with Ed Upson equalising just before the break, but Jerome Federico’s 25-yard shot in the final moments won it for the visitors.
Lee Martin, playing up front off Ronan Murray, had managed a couple of blocked efforts before central defender Luke Oliver headed home a corner to put a Wycombe side featuring former Blue Matt Bloomfield in front.
Wright had no chance with the goal and it wasn’t until the 22nd minute that the former England stopper made his first significant contribution, parrying away a well struck Stuart Beavon shot.
Right-back Jack Ainsley wasn’t far away from a goal for Town just before the half hour but screwed his shot wide of goal after a promising run.
Bermudian winger Reggie Lambe almost got the Blues back on terms in the 37th minute when he deftly took down a long ball over the top with his chest, beating the keeper in doing so, but Adam Hinshelwood got back to clear off the line.
Town got back on terms five minutes before the break, Ronan Murray crossing from the left, Devann Yao flicking the ball on and Ed Upson slamming the ball past former Norwich academy keeper Steve Arnold in the Wycombe goal.
Troy Brown picked up an early second half yellow card for a mistimed tackle, before Upson saw a freekick from 25 yards cannon off the post. Lambe’s rebound was blocked.
Lee Martin shot over in the 56th minute with the Blues pressing for a second. On 65 Devann Yao, playing wide on the left, was replaced by Luke Hyam. On today’s evidence the American looks raw but not without talent.
Ainsley headed Quinn’s 68th minute corner over, then the Irish midfielder shot only just too high.
Keeper Arnold saved from Murray, then at the other end Wright was forced into a rare save when Lewwis Spence’s low shot came through a crowd of players.
Wright made an even better save as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, standing up to Beavon when the striker was through one-on-one and blocking his shot.
As the game moved into injury time, sub Luke Hyam scuffed a shot wide and moments later Wycombe snatched the victory.
Sub Jerome Federico had caused the Blues and left-back Seb Dunbar in particular a number of problems since being introduced and with the final kick of the game unleashed a 25-yard strike which beat Richard Wright, struck the underside of the bar and crossed the line.
Town probably deserved more than the defeat but didn’t take their chances earlier in the second half.
Wright might feel he might have got to the winning goal had he been closer to full match sharpness, although it was a fine strike, but otherwise the keeper will be happy with his first game back.
Young central defender Tom Eastman was again probably the pick of the outfield players with Lee Martin once more failing to make the sort of impression you would hope he would at reserves level. Alan Quinn put in his usual solid but unspectacular display.
Boss Roy Keane watched the game along with first team coach Tony Loughlan, chief scout Steve McCall and fitness coach Antonio Gomez, while young left-back Shane O’Connor was also amongst those present at Playford Road.
Reserves: R Wright, Ainsley, Dunbar, Quinn, Brown, Eastman, Yao (Hyam 65), Upson, Murray, Martin, Lambe. Unused: McLoughlin, Cawley, McKeown.