Match Report: Semenyo's wild return seals cup win

[Olé]

An unexpected return for long term injured star Antoine Semenyo off the bench against a lively League One Wycombe, turned what at times was a nervous and edgy draw, into a convincing victory as the substitute striker created a sudden attacking mismatch that went far beyond how experienced defenders Kal Naismith and Timm Klose also tidied up comfortably at the back, adding star quality up front that ended the cup tie as a contest.

City had actually gone ahead early through debutant teenager Dylan Kadji's hook in off a Naismith corner, but despite flashing their quality in patches, City created few chances and Wycombe grew into the game in the run up to half time - netting a deserved leveller soon after the break. Nigel Pearson sent on more first teamers and his side was a threat via Kane Wilson out right, but it wasn't until Semenyo that the division advantage told.     

The absent striker was involved in the build up as Naismith notched a third consecutive assist returning the ball to Wilson to slam a volley into the top corner, and then after the Ghanaian had toyed with defenders holding the ball up at the corner flag for seemingly an age while the clock ran down, he turned up on halfway in injury time to rob the ball, send fellow sub Tommy Conway away, who allowed Semenyo to finish and seal the win. 

Kicking off in a burning sun set, City almost enjoyed a carbon copy of their second from Sunday as Naismith sent a free kick in from the left and Klose angled a header towards  the top corner before being clattered as Han Noah Massengo followed in. Next Massengo won a corner from the right which Naismith whipped into the six yard box - Tanner got a touch and new man Kadji glanced in under the crossbar at the far post to put City ahead.

Wycombe did not settle easily and their first chance came on 18 minutes as Al-Hamadi was given a chance to run at City's defence which opened up only for the striker to steer a low shot well wide. At the other end a busy Massengo won a corner from another - now deeper - left wing Naismith free kick, whilst on the half hour a quick exchange let Wilson embark on a barnstorming run infield from the right, his shot forcing another corner.

However heading towards the break, Klose, Naismith and in the 40th minute King were all forced to block or mop up crosses as the hosts' wingers found room to threaten the City box, and with minutes remaining Tanner conceded a free kick wrestling his opponent on the edge of the box, the away side able to head clear Joe Jacobson's set piece - as City coach Jason Euell argued the decision with ex Wimbledon teammate Ainsworth. 

In form teenager Conway replaced Nahki Wells at half time but from the restart it was all Wycombe - away down the right to force an early corner which was met far post and deflected wide of the post for a succession of corners. City could not clear their lines on the right and Anis Mehmeti lifted a ball over to the far post with players queueing up to head in and striker Al-Hamadi with the easy header to make things more uncomfortable. 

After 50 minutes Massengo powered away on a brilliant break shrugging off defenders before spreading the ball wide left which let Pring in on the flank whose cross back into the box was half cleared away. City were by now finding a rhythm again on the right and from Wilson's reverse Conway raced to the byline and cut back for Chris Martin's diving header in the six yard box, somehow beaten away with Massengo then Kadji following in. 

Matty James and Alex Scott were sent on to replace the two midfielders as City slammed balls into the box - Conway squaring across the face of goal after the hour with no one in place to convert, Wilson recycling to secure a corner that Pring rose to power over. Next Scott swept wide to Wilson whose crosses were causing chaos - this one finding Pring out left who dropped a shoulder, got to the byline to center, Martin inches from burying.

Inside 70 minutes that man Semenyo was roared back onto the field by City's bumper away following and though his first touches were rusty, in little more than 5 minutes he'd recover a deep Wilson cross and lay it back for Naismith whose looped cross returned it into Wilson's path, the wing back stealing into the box to sidefoot a rising volley inside the angle of post and bar to put the visitors ahead right in front of their massed fans.

Now City would turn it on - with five minutes left slick interplay by teenagers Conway and Scott saw the striker skip inside off the right exchange passes and win a corner. On the other flank heading into injury time an even more dominant spell as Semenyo endlessly held off an array of opponents at the corner flag to win first a throw in, then a corner and finally a free kick before he was finished. In front of away supporters it was heady stuff.

The absent frontman was not finished, he'd already raced onto one cute through ball by Pring on the left, and simply bamboozled his way past a confused defender on the same flank on another occasion but in injury time he would stretch to rob the ball on halfway and send Conway racing clear, the teenager bearing down on goal, drawing the keeper and unselfishly slipping the ball left inside a defender for Semenyo to prod home a third.

Turning to the away fans in front of him the highly rated forward grinned and took a bow - no doubt aware how well his unexpectedly early return to first team action had gone - and knowing that he had sealed City's place in the 3rd round of the league cup and given his manager a selection dilemma after their fourth win in a 5 match unbeaten run which further proved Pearson's men are finding a fluidity and the 'solutions' that he demands.

 

Bentley 7

Klose 7

Naismith 8

Tanner 5

Pring 6

Wilson 7

King 5

Kadji 6

Massengo 7

Wells 5

Martin 6

 

Conway 7

James 6

Scott 7

Semenyo 8

Edited August 24, 2022 by Olé

[Selred]

Bit generous for Semenyo. Yes he held the ball up well by the corner flag, but was also very rusty. A few slightly dodgy touches, lost possession on the halfway line by trying to be too tricksy, and blazed a crossed too hard too at one stage. 
 

Scott on the other hand did nothing wrong, oozed class. To be below Semenyo just isn’t fair. 

[JoeAman08]

7 hours ago, Selred said:

Bit generous for Semenyo. Yes he held the ball up well by the corner flag, but was also very rusty. A few slightly dodgy touches, lost possession on the halfway line by trying to be too tricksy, and blazed a crossed too hard too at one stage. 
 

Scott on the other hand did nothing wrong, oozed class. To be below Semenyo just isn’t fair. 

I can agree with that. A lot of rust but closing down to win the ball back leading to his goal is always going to bump your rating up. Scott was different class though and the game changed in our favour immediately. 
 

I think the midfield scores are maybe a bit harsh. None of them played particularly well but the first half they mostly watched the ball fly over their heads from both sides. Made it very difficult to affect the game. Felt a bit sorry for Kadji as we probably could not see what he was really about but a debut, an hour and a goal is a good day. 

[Murraysrightplum]

Please can we keep Scott and Semenyo - we might have a chance of actually doing something this season with those 2 plus supporting cast

[maxjak]

10 hours ago, Selred said:

Bit generous for Semenyo. Yes he held the ball up well by the corner flag, but was also very rusty. A few slightly dodgy touches, lost possession on the halfway line by trying to be too tricksy, and blazed a crossed too hard too at one stage. 
 

Scott on the other hand did nothing wrong, oozed class. To be below Semenyo just isn’t fair. 

Who cares if it's fair?  Antoine is our Talisman?  I would have given him a 10......Ha!!

[DT The Optimist]

Great report from ole as always. 
I note he gave Wilson 7 read elsewhere he was poor first half improved 2nd. 
perhaps worth a thread in its own right but like to know peoples take in respect of Kane Wilson , anyone who was there last night.  
He’s a player who once he gets going with us should be a very positive option

[redsquirrel]

3 hours ago, maxjak said:

Who cares if it's fair?  Antoine is our Talisman?  I would have given him a 10......Ha!!

make that 11 and i will give you a like 

[alexukhc]

Conway is not a teenager

[brady bunch]

love your reports Ole, when can we hear your "filth" on OSIB, I for one miss you on it.... Stanley is getting far too easy a ride now...

 I also think it was Wilson and not Tanner who turned the ball goal-wards for the first, from the corner.

Wilson was shaky in the first half, but got better and its hard to argue with an assist (probably more of his hand then thigh!) and a well taken goal. I am nit picking, of course! and I am not normally a pedant.........