Football: Prize at a price for Wycombe: Rupert Metcalf reports on the non-League history-makers with much to ponder after a victorious visit to Wembley
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Your support makes all the difference.WYCOMBE WANDERERS convincingly added the FA Trophy to their GM Vauxhall Conference title here yesterday with a 4-1 win over Runcorn to become only the third side to secure the non-League double.
However, when the celebrations end this week, the Buckinghamshire club will have much to ponder. Their promotion to the Barclays League means they must decide if they can afford full-time playing contracts, and they may have to find a new manager, for Martin O'Neill is top of most lists for the post at Nottingham Forest.
Wycombe opened their account after two minutes, Jason Cousins driving in a free-kick after Graham Hill had been penalised for pushing. Hill earned a booking for a trip on Steve Thompson and Runcorn paid the penalty when Andy Kerr headed in Dave Carroll's free-kick. Runcorn battled back and were rewarded with the game's best goal four minutes before the interval. An Ian Brady pass found Steve Shaughnessy, who struck a shot over Paul Hyde from 30 yards.
In the 58th minute Wycombe scored their third, Thompson heading in Steve Guppy's driven corner from close range. Runcorn were unlucky nine minutes from time when Ken McKenna's header struck a post and appeared to cross the line before Hyde clawed it out. Arthur Williams, in the Runcorn goal, was less fortunate in the last minute when his fumble sent Carroll's cross into the net.
O'Neill would not say if he expects to stay on at Wycombe. 'If an offer comes in I'd have to consider it,' he said, 'but I wouldn't leave Wycombe at the drop of a hat. This might be the right time to go, though.'
Runcorn: Williams; Bates, Robertson, Hill, Harold (Connor, 62), Anderson, Brady (Parker, 72), Brown, Shaughnessy, McKenna, Brabin.
Wycombe Wanderers: Hyde; Cousins, Cooper, Kerr, Crossley, Thompson, Carroll, Ryan, Hutchinson (Hayrettin, 65), Scott, Guppy. Substitute not used: Casey.
Referee: I Borrett (Harleston, Norfolk).
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