Live Commentary: Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 (5-3) Plymouth Argyle - as it happened

Wycombe Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle faced off in the second leg of their League Two playoff semi-final at Adams Park.

The home side held a 3-2 lead from the first leg, but the Pilgrims had given themselves hope with two late goals at Home Park.

Gareth Ainsworth's men took control of the game in the first half through strikes from Paul Hayes and Alfie Mawson. The visitors battled back after the break with a goal from Ryan Brunt and put the pressure on Wanderers in the dying minutes.

However, the Chairboys held out for the win to book their place in the playoff final at Wembley.

Read how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.

9.50pmThanks for joining our commentary this evening. Stick with Sports Mole for all the reaction from tonight's matches. But from me, it's goodbye.

9.48pmThe match between Southend and Stevenage has gone to extra-time as Barry Corr missed a late penalty for the Shrimpers. Wycombe will have to wait a little bit longer to find out who they are playing at Wembley on May 23, but I don't think Ainsworth will care either way.

9.46pmPlymouth left their charge to late in the match, even though the introductions of Ansah, Brunt and Banton did have a major effect on the game. They showed fight to battle to the end and on another day could have grabbed a couple of goals to extend the tie into extra-time, but Wycombe had the quality when it mattered the most and deserve their place at Wembley.

9.44pmAinsworth's men are in the playoff final as they did enough over the two legs to defeat the Pilgrims. It wasn't always pretty from the home side, but they were effective when they need to be to secure their place in the final. Defensively they were excellent in the final few minutes of the game as Alfie Mawson and Aaron Pierre were solid at the back, while Alex Lynch made several quality to stops to ensure the Pilgrims could not fight back late in the match.

9.44pmWYCOMBE ARE GOING TO WEMBLEY!

90 + 6 minFULL-TIME: Wycombe 2-1 Plymouth

90 + 6 minTime is running out for the visitors. They surely don't have time to score two goals here.

90 + 4 minPlymouth pile men into the box as they win two corners in succession, but Lynch is able to clear the ball away with a powerful fist. Banton latches onto the ball on the edge of the box and blasts his effort over the bar. That could be the game.

90 + 2 minCHANCE! Saunders hits the free kick over the bar and the from the goal kick the ball is played to Alessandra on the left. He cuts back onto his right foot to deliver the ball into the box, and his arcing ball causes all sorts of problems, but goes untouched on its route to goal. It looks to be heading for the top corner until Lynch tips the ball past the post.

90 + 1 minDesperation kicks in from the visitors as Hartley brings down Holloway on the edge of the box and a chance for Saunders to end the game.

90 minThere will be six minutes of added time.

88 minCHANCE! Another good run from Reid as he travels from the centre circle to the edge of the box and has yellow shirts in support. However, he decides to go alone and can only drag his shot wide of the target. His teammates don't look too impressed with that effort.

87 minCHANCE! Reid goes on surging run down the right and lifts a cross from deep into the box. It travels past the first row of defenders into the path of Brunt at the back post. The forward takes the shot on first time and can only guide his strike past the post. Brunt had more time than he thought there.

86 minA mix-up between Wood and Jacobson allows the visitors to win a corner down the right, but the delivery from Bobby Reid is poor which allows Wycombe to clear.

85 minSUBSTITUTION: McClure replaces Hayes for the home side.

82 minPlymouth are piling on the pressure in the dying minutes and Mawson is forced into action with a brave clearing header by leaping over Brunt to head the ball away from goal. However, his clearance comes back into the box from the right and Pierre uses his strength to keep Ansah at bay.

80 minCHANCE! Hayes has the chance to effectively end the tie as he collects a pass from Pierre inside the box and tries to find the top corner with a left-footed strike. However, his effort goes inches past the post.

78 minYELLOW CARD! Mellor goes into the book for the visitors for a challenge on Ephraim.

76 minBanton continues to cause problems down the left as he beats Bean to cut back inside on his right foot to float a cross into the box, but Lynch gathers under pressure from Brunt.

74 minSAVE! Lynch makes an excellent save to keep his side ahead on the night as Mellor wins the ball on the edge of the box for the visitors and manages to turn to tee up Ansah on the right. The midfielder drills the ball towards the bottom corner, but Lynch displays quick reactions to tip the ball behind.

71 minGame on! Plymouth find a way back into the match as Ansah breaks the offside trap to get beyond the backline of Wycombe. He raids into the box and cuts the ball back for the run of Brunt in the middle who displays great technique to back heel the ball into the net. The goal had been coming and could we see another late show from the Pilgrims. They need a further two goals to tie the score on aggregate.

71 minGOAL! Wycombe 2-1 Plymouth (Brunt)

69 minCHANCE! Bobby Reid picks up the ball 30 yards from goal and unleashes a powerful strike towards the bottom corner. The ball takes a wicked bounce up from the turf as he heads towards the bottom corner, but Lynch is able to make the stop to push it behind.

65 minUPDATE! Southend have equalised in the other League Two playoff semi-final thanks to a goal from Ryan Leonard. It's all square again in that game.

63 minBobby Reid threatens down the right for the Pilgirms as he whips a dangerous cross to the near post looking for the run of Ansah in the middle, but Bean manages to deflect the ball over the bar for a corner. However, the resulting cross is poor and the home side clear the danger.

61 minThe visitors work the ball into the box from the throw and Pierre comes up big for Wycombe as he makes a vital interception at the near post to divert the ball off Brunt for a goal kick. A tad lucky to get the deflection for a goal kick, but the defender was in the perfect position to stop the cross.

60 minPlymouth keep the pressure on as Mellor comes in with a solid challenge on Jacobson to win a throw in deep in the home side's half. Jacobson goes down clutching his shin following the tackle, which causes a brief delay.

58 minOFF THE BAR! Plymouth come within inches of getting a goal back as Ansah raids down the left flank and beats the challenge of Bean. He lifts a cross into the box which flies over the head of Lynch and crashes off the underside of the bar and bounces clear.

54 minUPDATE! Stevenage have taken the lead in their tie against Southend thanks to a goal from Tom Pett. If the result stays the same they will play the winner of this match.

52 minGood pressure again from the visitors as Bobby Reid does well down the right to tee up Ansah on the edge of the area. The midfielder has space and time to fire an effort at goal, but he skews his left-footed strike wide of the post.

50 minCHANCE! Finally a shot in anger from the visitors as Banton raids down the left and fires a low ball across the face of goal looking for the run of Brunt at the near post. The forward makes contact, but he can only guide his effort wide of the post. Better intent from the Pilgrims.

47 minSpeculative effort from Jacobson as he spots McCormick off his line and attempts to lob him from a free kick, but the effoft is poor and the keeper is able to claim with ease.

46 minRESTART! We're back underway at Adams Park

8.48pmSUBSTITUTIONS: Sheridan has opted to make all of his changes at the break as Banton, Ansah and Brunt all come onto the pitch to replace Blizzard, McHugh and Reuben Reid.

8.44pmIt is goalless at the break in the other League Two playoff semi-final between Southend United and Stevenage, with the tie evening poised on a 1-1 aggregate score.

8.40pmThe Pilgrims were extremely poor in the first 45 minutes as they created nothing in the final third and were a shambles at the back. Sheridan needs to change something at the break otherwise his team will have to remain in League Two for another season.

8.36pmWycombe have one foot in the playoff final as the first half could not have gone better for Ainsworth's side. The Chairboys scored two goals from set pieces as Paul Hayes netted their first goal after capitalising on a mistake from Luke McCormick, while Alfie Mawson showed his dominance in the air to notch the second. The home team could have been further ahead had they been more clinical in front of goal.

45 + 2 minHALF-TIME: Wycombe 2-0 Plymouth

45 + 1 minAlessandra sums up the opening 45 minutes for the visitors as he collects the ball on the left and tries to cross the ball to the back post, but his ball into the box sails out of play.

45 minThere will be two minutes of added time.

43 minThe Pilgrims have offered nothing in the final third of the pitch this evening. Sheridan needs to find a spark at the break otherwise his team are definitely spending another season in the fourth tier of English football.

40 minWycombe earn yet another corner to the delight of their supporters. Jacobson whips the ball towards the near post again, but this time McCormick makes good contact on the punch to clear the danger.

38 minPlymouth threaten and could have had a case for a penalty as they won a corner down the right. The ball was whipped to the back post for the run of O'Connor who tried to make contact, but it appeared as though he was held back by Bean. No major appeal from the visitors though.

36 minSurely the tie is beyond the reach of Plymouth now. Sheridan's side have simply not turned up this evening and could be further behind if not for the saves from McCormick.

35 minWycombe double their lead and it's straight from the corner as the delivery from Jacobson causes problems at the near post. Mawson rises highest to head the ball past McCormick into the top corner. An excellent header from the defender, but the visitors' defending was questionable once again.

35 minGOAL! Wycombe 2-0 Plymouth (Mawson)

34 minCHANCE! Ephraim slides a through ball into the path of Saunders, who gets the better of Hartley, but his low drive towards goals is parried behind for a corner by McCormick.

32 minAnother ball into the box causes problems for the Plymouth defence as Pierre tries to hook the ball toward goal, but Nelson does just enough to clear the danger.

30 minYELLOW CARD! O'Connor goes into the book for the visitors for a poor challenge on Wood.

28 minPlymouth need to get a grip on the ball for an extended period of time here to stop the pressure from the hosts. Wycombe are in complete control at the moment and a second goal could be a killer in the tie.

25 minCHANCE! The home side continue to dominate and Yennaris almost doubles their advantage as he heads narrowly over the bar from close range. Holloway and Ephraim were involved again as the forward did well to turn his man to pick out the winger, who delivered a pinpoint cross for Yennaris. However, the midfielder couldn't apply the finishing touch to the move.

22 minWycombe work the ball well between Yennaris and Ephraim in the final third. The winger picks out the storming run of Jacobson down the left flank, but the cross from the full-back is poor as it sails out for a goal kick. A waste from Jacobson from a decent position.

18 minSaunders whips the ball into the box from the left and is zips across the face of goal as Pierre tried to latch onto the cross. The defender felt that he was nudged by Nelson and wanted a spot kick, as did his manager on the touchline, but the referee waved his claims away.

17 minA mistake by McHugh allows the home side to threaten from another corner as he gets his backpass to McCormick all wrong and the ball gies out of play.

15 minHolloway does well against for Wycombe as he holds off the challenge of Hartley and then drops a perfect pass for the run of Ephraim down the left. The full-back dinks the ball into the box looking for Wood, but his pass is just overhit and McCormick is able to gather.

12 minMcCormick may just have atoned for his mistake from the first goal with the double stop to deny Holloway and Hayes, but Plymouth need to get into gear quickly in this match if they are to avoid defeat.

10 minCHANCE! Holloway misses a glorious chance to double his side's lead on the night as he latches onto a through ball and outpaces Nelson to burst into the box. His effort is low and is well saved by McCormick, but the ball rebounds to Hayes who strikes it first time, only to see his shot stopped by the keeper. Wood has the final effort as he collects the ball on the edge of the box, but skies his strike over the bar.

8 minA huge goal in the tie as Wycombe take the lead on the night. It's a horror moment of McCormick as he tries to punch a corner from the left clear but doesn't get enough power on his clearance. He tries to atone for his error with another punch, but he gets blocked off by his teammate. Mawson heads the ball back into the six-yard box into the path of Hayes, who scoops the ball on the half-volley into the net.

8 minGOAL! Wycombe 1-0 Plymouth (Hayes)

5 minBobby Reid collects the ball down the right and lifts a cross towards the penalty spot where yellow shirts are massing in the box. However, O'Connor can't make contact with his header for the visitors as he ends up in a heap in the middle of the six-yard box, while the attack is eventually snuffed out.

4 minThe visitors hit back with a spell of pressure down the left as Holmes-Dennis and Alessandra push Bean right back onto the byline, but the hosts get numbers back to quell the attack.

2 minPlymouth clear their lines from the first corner and again from another to ease the danger on their goal in the opening minutes of the match.

1 minEarly pressure from the home side as they win a corner down the left thanks to good work from Wood. An early goal would be a great start for Ainsworth's men this evening.

1 minKICKOFF! We're underway at Adams Park.

7.43pmThe players are out on the pitch and we should be underway shortly.

7.40pmSo we're poised for an interesting match this evening as neither club is playing to their strong suit. However, with a place at Wembley at stake one side must rise to occasion.

7.34pmHowever, Plymouth are not the best travellers as they recorded seven wins from their 23 matches on the road this season. In total Sheridan's men took 26 points from their 23 games, but they were far stronger in from of their own supporters this season.

7.32pmDespite finishing fourth in the League Two table, Wycombe boasted the 11th best home record in the division as they took just 37 points from their 23 matches. In stark contrast to their away record where they had the best record in the league, accumulating 47 points on their travels.

7.30pmIn the meeting at Adams Park earlier this season Plymouth ran out 2-0 victors thanks to goals from Lewis Alessandra and Peter Hartley. The same result tonight would send Sheridan's side through to the final at Wembley.

7.24pmAinsworth has revealed that it would be huge for the club and the town for his side to defeat the Pilgrims to reach the playoff final at Wembley. He told the club's official website: "It would mean so much to the whole town, not just the club, if we were able to reach the final but we know we have a huge challenge ahead of us in the second leg. "The fans who follow us week in, week out have been phenomenal and so much of what we've achieved on the pitch is down to their support, getting behind us when we've got our backs against the wall and helping the lads believe that we can achieve success together."

7.20pmSheridan has admitted that the first goal at Adams Park will be crucial this evening as his side look to advance to the final at Wembley. He told BBC Sport: "I think it's about the next goal. Wycombe are at home and if they come at us and get a goal it would give them a big lift and obviously a big boost. "Obviously they're the favourites, they've got the advantage of the goal, but I think the players are really confident they can get the result we're after. "Wycombe will make life difficult for us but we'll go there and give it our best shot. "There are one or two with little knocks but everyone's fit."

7.16pmPlymouth have also made one change to their team from the clash at Home Park. Dominic Blizzard comes into the team in the midfield to replace Gethin Jones, who takes his place on the bench.

7.13pmWycombe make one change to their team from the first leg as Hogan Ephraim comes into the side to replace the injured Steven Craig, who is unable to feature at all at Adams Park. Matt McClure takes Ephraim's place on the bench. Keeper Alex Lynch retains his place in goal as starter Matt Ingram is still out with an injury.

7.10pmPLYMOUTH STARTING XI: McCormick, Mellor, Nelson, Alessandra, R Reid, Holmes-Dennis, McHugh, B Reid, O'Connor, Blizzard, Hartley Subs: Bittner, Purrington, Banton, Jones, Harvey, Ansah, Brunt

7.06pmWYCOMBE STARTING XI: Lynch, Bean, Jacobson, Mawson, Pierre, Saunders, Yennaris, Wood, Ephraim, Holloway, Hayes Subs: Horlock, Fletcher, Bloomfield, Murphy, McClure, Kretzschmar, Onyedinma

7pmThe team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.

6.57pmGareth Ainsworth would have been delighted with what he saw from his side in the first 84 minutes of the match at Home Park. Wanderers were clinical in front of goal as they snapped up the majority of the chances that were on offer, while they were also resilient at the back. However, Wycombe lost concentration in the final five minutes of the match to allow Plymouth back into the tie with lapses at the back. Ainsworth will still be pleased to take a one-goal lead into the second leg at Adams Park where they can keep their battle to earn a place in League One next season on track.

6.52pmPlymouth will be relieved to still be in the match as they looked down and out of the tie in the 52nd minute when Craig fired in the third goal for Wanderers. However, Sheridan's men battled back with two well-taken goals from Ansah and Banton keep the tie in the balance. The Pilgrims cannot play any worse than they did in the opening 60 minutes of the match so there is plenty of optimism from Sheridan's side that they can overturn the deficit to book their place in the final.

6.48pmThe tie is evenly poised after the first leg as Wycombe hold a 3-2 lead following the clash at Home Park as goals from Paul Hayes, Aaron Holloway and Steven Craig put the Chairboys in command. However, the Pilgrims gave themsevles hope in the tie as Zak Ansah and Jason Banton scored in the final five minutes of the game to bring their side within a goal.

6.45pmGood evening and welcome to the live commentary of the second leg of the League Two playoff semi-final betweeen Wycombe Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle.

Live Commentary: Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 (5-3) Plymouth Argyle - as it happened

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Teams mentioned in this article :

Wycombe Wanderers

Plymouth Argyle