Wycombe goalkeeper Max Stryjek was left absolutely embarrassed on Tuesday night after his theatrics in stoppage time at the end of the match cost his side a point. The Chairboys were defeated 1-0 by Barnsley in League One, with the result leaving them 15th in the table and six points above the relegation zone.
Wycombe arrived at Oakwell Stadium off the back of five league matches without a win. Nicky Cadden had a chance to break the deadlock for the hosts inside the opening 10 minutes, but fired wide after making his way into the box. Barnsley captain Jordan Williams was then denied by Stryjek with 20 minutes remaining, before away striker Lyle Taylor had an effort blocked 11 minutes from time.
Wycombe produced a resolute defensive display in Yorkshire and appeared to have done enough to secure a well-earned share of the spoils. But they were undone at the death after Stryjek’s attempt at time-wasting seriously backfired.
With time ticking away, the Polish ace was awarded possession through a drop-ball and proceeded to wander out of his goal with the ball at his feet as substitute Barnsley striker Sam Cosgrove raced towards him to close him down.
Stryjek picked the ball up but was then nudged by the former Everton academy player. And, remarkably, the shot-stopper dropped the ball as he hit the turf. The ball fell to Cosgrove – and the ace rounded Stryjek before tapping home his first goal of the season.
The goal was allowed to stand as Stryjek thrust both his arms out in protest before being booked. And Wycombe left-back Harry Boyes was then given his marching orders after being handed a second yellow card.
“It’s the best goal I’ve scored”, Cosgrove joked in an interview with BBC Sheffield after the final whistle had gone. “I’ve probably nudged into him. There’s a little bit of contact but nowhere near enough for him to drop the ball and fall on the floor. There’s absolutely no need for him to drop the ball and go down in that fashion. Fair play to the ref and kudos to him for seeing that – it wasn’t a foul.”
And Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield told reporters: “We’ve conceded a goal tonight that I’ve never seen in my time in football, the circumstances surrounding it. Our players put so much into that performance coming off the back of a disappointing result at the weekend. It actually looked like it was going to be us that was going to go and nick it at the end.”
