IN-FORM keeper Adam Collin and popular super-sub Francois Zoko produced the reasons for a share of the spoils as Carlisle United plugged away despite an out-of-character and below par performance.
“The mistakes and errors we thought we’d got rid of came back into our game and one or two players looked a little way off the pace, ” said manager Greg Abbott.
“Credit to Wycombe, they brought the game to us and they got us on the break, and we don’t usually allow that to happen.
“We also have to give a pat on the back to Francois [Zoko]. He has been patient and he has come on and got the goal for us again.”
It started well for the Cumbrians when the Scottish contingent of Jon-Paul McGovern, Lee Miller and Rory Loy combined to open the scoring with some fans still making their way to their seats.
The Chairboys belied their lowly status as they started to piece together some attractive football and big stopper Adam Collin found himself having to complete a string of fantastic saves, one of which was a point-blank fingertip touch onto the woodwork from lively Fulham loanee Marcello Trotta.
But Antony McNamee pulled the scores level with a contender for goal of the season when he curled a beauty into the top corner from 30-yards, and Trotta gave his side a half-time advantage when he stroked a flowing move underneath Collin and into the bottom corner.
“We had to work harder, it was as simple as that, ” Abbott said. “We switched things around two or three times in the second half to try to get our attacking game going, but they had something to hold on to. One thing we have seen is this team has spirit and determination.
“Even though we weren’t playing at our best, we kept going and we got what could be a very important point from a really tough afternoon.”
The face-saving equaliser came once more from the craft of midfielder McGovern as he completed his second assist of the afternoon with a deft back-post cross. Zoko did the rest as he nodded it into the back of the net.
“It is good to score but I am always more interested in the team,” the Ivorian forward admitted. “It was important for us to get a goal, and we have kept our good run going. I have said before, I want to play, but I will not tell the manager who he has to pick. If I am on the bench, I will give 100%. If I start, I will do the same.”
CARLISLE UNITED: Collin, Robson, Michalik, Murphy, Simek, Noble (Zoko 65), Thirlwell (Taiwo 55), Berrett, Loy (Madden 75), Miller, McGovern. Subs (not used): Gillespie, Livesey.
Booked: Berrett, Zoko. Goals: Loy 2, Zoko 86.
WYCOMBE: Bull, Basey, Johnson, Winfield, McCoy, Grant (Harris 90), Bloomfield, Lewis, McNamee, Beavon, Trotta (Rowlands 88). Subs (not used): Foster, Ainsworth, Strevens. Booked: Johnson, Bloomfield. Goals: McNamee 28, Trotta 36.
Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Tyne & Wear) Att: 4,414
