Oxford 1-2 Wycombe: Chairboys earn promotion to Championship with play-off final victory

Wycombe Wanderers climbed into the second tier of English football for the first time in their 133-year history by beating Oxford United at Wembley.

The club from the town of High Wycombe in the Chiltern Hills are destined for new heights in the Championship after beating their big-city rivals from 23 miles up the M40 in the League One play-off final.

They were eighth when the season ground to a halt as the pandemic took hold in March but had played fewer games and were lifted to third when the points-per game system was introduced to settle the final placings. 

Wycombe went ahead in the first half through a header from defender Anthony Stewart

Mark Sykes struck back to level the match for Oxford United just before the hour mark

Captain Joe Jacobson stepped up to score late spot-kick and seal promotion from League One

Under long-serving boss Gareth Ainsworth, bringing his own brand of rock-star chic on the touchline, they have excelled in the play-offs, scoring six over two legs in the semi-final against Fleetwood.

Joe Jacobson who settled the final at Wembley with a coolly converted penalty in the 79th minute after Oxford goalkeeper Simon Eastwood wiped out Fred Onyedinma after losing a race for a long ball.

For Eastwood, one of the heroes of the semi-final shootout win against Portsmouth, this was a night to forget.

Earlier, he had unwittingly turned the ball into his own net to give Wycombe an early when a corner delivered by Jacobson caused havoc in the Oxford goalmouth.

The ‘keeper misjudged the swerving ball and centre-half Anthony Stewart climbed at the back post. Stewart headed it square, back across goal, and the ball struck Eastwood on to toe of his left boot as he tumbled and diverted into the net.

Eastwood then spilled a low shot from Onyedinma but gathered it at the second attempt and Oxford settled as the half went on. They dominated possession without creating any clear openings.

Sam Long flashed a shot wide after linking up with Mark Sykes. Stewart made a terrific sliding interception to prevent a cross from Sykes reaching Matt Taylor, and Marcus Browne fired over from distance.

Onyedinma fired over when presented with had a chance to stretch the lead before half-time and Oxford pulled level, early in the second half.

Simon Eastwood fouled Fred Onyedinma with 10 minutes left to concede penalty to Wycombe

Jacobson put one of League One’s smallest clubs budget-wise into the Championship

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth celebrates taking the club to the second tier for the first time

Sykes was wide on the right and surely looking to find teammates in the centre but sliced the cross and saw it sail over the head of goalkeeper Ryan Allsop and into the net.

Stewart made another vital intervention to deny James Henry and Taylor.

If Allsop was at fault for the goal, he made amends with some excellent saves in the closing stages, including two from headers by Rob Dickie within a minute and helped his team secure a remarkable achievement.