Doherty distraught after Wycombe relegation

May 1 2012 By Yann Tear

Gary Doherty

GARY Doherty may only have invested a few months of his career to Wycombe Wanderers, but the pain was every bit as obvious as that etched on the faces of the more seasoned campaigners after their relegation was confirmed.

The on-loan Charlton defender dutifully paused for autographs as he left Adams Park, but the former Spurs and Norwich centre-half was clearly as deflated as anyone following Saturday’s defeat.

Wanderers were two minutes away from a win which would have sent them to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday still hopeful of pulling off a great final day escape.

Leading for a third time in the match through Stuart Beavon – the striker’s 25th goal of the season – Wanderers fans were hopeful. Especially as relegation rivals Orient were trailing and Walsall being held to a draw.

Then the roof fell in as first Dele Adebola headed in before Alan Judge smashed in the winner in injury time.

“We are feeling very down, especially because of the way it’s happened,” said Doherty. “I thought we were back in with a chance, winning 3-2, but they mounted a lot of pressure on us in the end and we buckled.

“I thought could just battle it out, but they kept bombarding us and getting crosses in the box. They are a big, strong side and they just overpowered us in the end.

“That was disappointing and I guess it has summed up our season. We have conceded too many goals – easily the most in the league.

“This is my first loss at home. I always fancy us to do well here. We’re a decent team at home. It's obviously terribly disappointing to concede two late goals like that.”

Matt Bloomfield’s first minute opener was cancelled by Daniel Bogdanovic two minutes later and a Grant Basey penalty after 17 minutes was pegged back just before the interval by Judge’s first strike.

Beavon’s superbly taken goal on 68 minutes, after a clever back-heel from Bloomfield, was still not enough in the end.

“Stuart’s been terrific,” Doherty said. “He’s had a great season and he’ll probably move on, but you never know what’s going to happen in the summer. He’s played in a team that’s struggled all season but he’s still been firing and I’ve been so impressed with his work-rate. If he does move on, we’ve got to wish him all the best because he’s done everything he could to keep Wycombe in the league.”

(Picture by Paul Dennis/WWFC)