All square in entertaining game ...
An entertaining game ended all square at Brunton Park as United created some good chances without quite managing to put daylight between themselves and their fellow play-off chasers.
A lapse of concentration early in the game allowed Wood to play O'Nien into the area with United light at the back. A cut back appeared to be perfect for Jacobson but he misjudged his shot and it screwed off his boot at the edge of the box. It eventually fell for Wood, 30 yards out, but his shot was right at Gillespie.
The home side countered well with a slick move down the right flank and Hope was unlucky as he made it behind the back four. Kennedy was in space but Allsop moved across to block the pass.
A huge ball forward from the Wycombe keeper followed and Thompson did well as he trapped it with a deft touch. Ellis moved sharply to close the gap as a snapshot spun high into the crowd.
Good football from Wyke earned the hosts a corner as the match ebbed and flowed and Miller was a whisker away as he glanced the Grainger delivery at the far corner. The keeper was beaten but so was the post.
United went close again on nine minutes when Grainger bent a superb 28-yard free kick round the wall. Allsop dived long to get fingertips to the goal-bound effort.
Disaster struck with just 12 minutes on the clock when Jacobson moved into space on the left. His cross found Wood completely unmarked on the penalty spot and a guided header left Gillespie with no chance as it nestled in the back of the net.
The Chairboys held their shape after the goal but United kept the work rate high as they chipped away at breaking down one of the division's meanest defences. And they got their reward when Miller and Gilliead exchanged passes by the corner flag. An inside pass found Hope on the move and a lovely touch with his heel took his marker completely out of the game. Charlie Wyke called for it and he made no mistake as he slotted goal number 12 for the season into the net from eight yards out.
Carlisle carved Wycombe open again moments later but Allsop made a double save as Kennedy clipped a Joyce pass at the target. Hope was on to the parry like a flash but the stopper adjusted to make another good stop.
United should have taken the lead ahead of the break when Atkinson lobbed a deep cross into the mix. Ellis sent it back across the face of goal but Hope somehow got underneath it and he popped his ten yard header over the bar when he had the width of the target to aim at.
Carlisle continued to look the more likely and another fierce delivery from Miller had Raynes interested. His volley took a touch from a defender and that was enough to send it past the upright.
Keeper Mark Gillespie went from villain to hero just before half time when he scampered off the line to chase down a flick on inside his area. He collided with Thompson and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Joe Jacobson stepped up to take it but it was pats on the back all round as the relieved keeper went full length to push it wide.
It took a while to get going after the break but the first chance of the half had to be dealt with by Gillespie when a Jacobson cross was glanced by O'Nien. Another full length diving save did the trick as Wycombe were set to celebrate.
Loud appeals for a penalty were ignored when Wyke was bundled to the floor as he challenged for a Grainger cross, and Hope went close when he burst in from the left with the ball at his feet. He went for the top corner but it curled just over the angle of post and bar.
A quiet half sprung into life with a goalmouth scramble on 70 minutes as Raynes twice powered volleys into bodies. Joyce had a stab, Asamoah kept it alive and Wycombe breathed a sigh of relief as Hallam Hope rasped a close range shot over the target.
Carlisle turned the pressure valves up and McGinn did well as Grainger put Hope on the overlap. Blue shirts were in attendance but an outstretched leg was enough to bring the move to an end. Ellis was first to the corner but his header spooned high into the stands.
Seasoned campaigner Marcus Bean received his marching orders for a late one on Ellis with just nine minutes to play, but the visitors sat deep and protected their goal with their lives as they picked up their valuable point.
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Goals
United - Wyke (26)
Wycombe - Wood (12)
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Bookings
United - Kennedy (32), Raynes (88)
Wycombe - Stewart (83)
Sent off - Bean (79 - straight red card)
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Teams
Carlisle United - Gillespie, Miller, Ellis, Raynes, Atkinson (Smith 68), Gilliead (Asamoah 65), Joyce (Ibehre 77), Kennedy, Grainger, Hope, Wyke. Subs - Hanford, Hery, Archibald-Henville, McQueen.
Wycombe Wanderers - Allsop, Jacobson, McGinn, Stewart, Pierre, Thompson (Liburd 69), Bean, Wood (Bloomfield 90), O'Nien, McCarthy, Ugwu (Harriman 81). Subs - Siegrist, Hayes, Sellers, Jombati.
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Referee - Mr Tim Robinson
Attendance - 4,532 (179 away fans)
