United went out of the FA Cup amid great drama in a classic FA Cup game at Wycombe this afternoon. Having equalised via Gavin Johnson The U's were hit by the sucker punch a minute later as Stefan Oakes gave the home side victory.

Injury forced Jim Smith into making two changes to the team that beat Aldershot last weekend. Rob Duffy and Andy Burgess both missed out and were replaced by Eddie Hutchinson and Steve Basham

The changes almost had an immediate effect as after just one minute, United broke down the left with Chris Hargreaves.Hargeaves then played in a deep first-time cross which found Hutchinson at the back post, but the big midfielder saw his header fly wide.

It was a decent start by United although it had to be said that even at this very early stage of the match referee Mathieson had already given a number of home decisions.In fact it was one of these decisions that almost gave the home side the lead in the 9^th minute.Wycombe broke through the middle of the park and Hargreaves, tracking back well, appeared to win the ball cleanly. The referee had other ideas and blew for a free kick twenty yards out from goal. Up stepped Stefan Oakes, but the midfielder saw his effort crash against the crossbar with Turley beaten.

United were now under pressure, and Turley did well to save from Tommy Mooney in the 12^th minute and then again in the 24^th minute and although it was the home side that were still shading possession, the United defence were holding firm.

In fact, as the half hour passed, United were more than holding their own against their higher league opponents and you did get the feeling that the longer United could keep the score level, the more nervous the home side would become.

In fact it was United that were finishing the half the stronger and they had a great chance to take the lead in the 45^th minute.Constant United pressure won a corner, the ball was cleared to the Chris Willmott on the edge of the box. The defender then showed great ability to hit the ball first time towards goal but Young was agile enough to tip the ball over the bar.

United started the second half on top as well and Hutchinson had another effort saved by Young before having to limp off with an injury, with Gavin Johnson coming on instead. Perhaps the change affected United's concentration, because moments later the home side were in the lead.

It came from a corner, which found Stefan Oakes out on the edge of the area. Oakes drilled in a slightly mis-hit effort, but it unerringly found the toe of Wycombe defender Will Antwi who steered it past Turley from close range.

It was harsh on the yellows who had been on top, but without the vision of Burgess they were relying on hard work and endeavour, both in evidence wherever you looked. Wycombe are a good League Two side, but United were matching them and were roughly 6000 times better than on the same ground last time. The difference remained just that set piece, and maybe that's the difference between most of the teams we've faced this year and League two opposition...

MInd you, if Antwi had been able to direct his free shot on target from six yards on 78 then the game would have been dead, and the home side were the ones who had created the best chances.

Instead we had ten minutes of high drama, including a little comedy with a passing grouse wandering around the pitch for a while. It looked as though United had kept their unbeaten record when Johnson smashed home a low free kick from twenty five yards on 85, sparking wild celebrations in the away end, but it was short lived as The Chairboys broke forward with Kevin Betsy on the right. His cross found Oakes, who cut inside and then thrashed the ball past the helpless Turley to send Wycombe into the draw for the next round.

There were three minutes of tension, but for all The U's graft and toil there was no reward. No disgrace, and there are bigger targets this season, but a proper cup tie and conformation if it was needed that United are able to compete with just about anyone these days.

Report Julian Hitchman and Chris Williams. Pictures Darrell Fisher