Stevenage claimed a 2-1 victory over Wycombe in the League Cup Round of 128 on Thursday evening at Adams Park. The visitors took the lead through Daniel Kemp before Ethan Henderson equalised for the hosts, but Jamie Magennis struck in stoppage time to seal the result. It was another chapter in a cup competition where the higher-ranked side often finds itself chasing.
And here's the thing about first halves — the opening exchanges set a tone that never quite settled. Kemp gave Stevenage the advantage in the 27th minute, capitalising on a moment of space in the box. Henderson levelled six minutes later, his effort finding the back of the net after Wycombe had pushed forward. By then, three yellow cards had already been shown, suggesting the physical nature of the encounter from the outset.
The second half brought a series of tactical adjustments, with both managers turning to their benches. Wycombe introduced Cory Woodrow in the 64th minute, hoping to add fresh legs to their attack. Stevenage responded with Jordan Roberts and Jamie Reid, looking to protect their narrow advantage. Magennis proved the decisive figure, scoring in the 90th minute and five seconds to send the away supporters home content.
The statistics tell a familiar story of possession without penetration. Wycombe controlled 59 per cent of the ball and registered 114 attacks compared to Stevenage's 72, yet their expected goals of 1.89 translated into a single goal. Shots accuracy was just 23 per cent for the hosts, while Stevenage managed 38 per cent despite fewer opportunities. The away side created five shots on target from 11 attempts, a ratio that speaks to efficiency over volume.
The result ends Wycombe's recent good run, having won their last two games against Ipswich and Portsmouth. Stevenage, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten streak with victories over Colchester and Millwall before this cup triumph. The away end never stopped throughout, even when the home side pressed for an equaliser that never arrived.