FC Halifax Town 0 Wycombe 4: Thompson returns to highlight problems for Kelly’s Halifax

The 34-year-old, a key figure for Bradford City in the never-to-be-forgotten 2012-13 season that brought promotion from League Two and a historic appearance in the League Cup final, was the standout performer as Wycombe Wanderers coasted into the FA Cup second round at the expense of the Shaymen.

Thompson scored the first goal, played a leading role in the Chairboys’ second and, but for a post and the agility of debutant goalkeeper Russell Griffiths, could have had a hat-trick before being substituted near the end.

His all-action display typified the gulf in class between two clubs who are separated by 40 places in the football pyramid.

Two of Wycombe’s goals may have come late on but, on the balance of play, the final scoreline was a decent reflection of a contest in which the part-timers worked hard but were guilty of making far too many basic errors.

Defeat meant Town’s hopes of making the second round of the Cup for the first time since reforming in 2008 were firmly dashed, though compensation of sorts came via the £12,500 that the club banked from the BBC for the tie forming part of yesterday’s Final Score show.

Manager Darren Kelly said: “I thought we dealt with Wycombe well for a lot of the game but with a very experienced campaigner like Garry, you just can’t give them a second’s rest as they will punish you.

“But I felt we put in a battling shift. I didn’t think 4-0 was a fair result but we have to take it on the chin.”

Halifax’s goals against column is a vivid illustration of why the club is struggling at the foot of the National League.

Town’s backline has been breached 47 times in 19 league games and any supporters who popped along to The Shay yesterday for the first time this season will have understood inside the opening quarter why the defence has been so porous.

Basic errors, poor decision making and a tendency to make life hard for themselves were all on display from the hosts and it was from one such act of generosity that helped Wycombe take the lead.

Halifax had two opportunities to clear the danger on 17 minutes but failed to take either and it was Thompson who capitalised with a sweet finish on the half volley.

Even after being punished in such a clinical fashion, the mistakes kept coming as Everton loanee Griffiths flapped at a corner and O’Nien headed over before Thompson dragged a shot wide following a slip by Tommy Miller. Both were big let-offs for Town, who were also fortunate that O’Nien was unable to capitalise on a wretched throw-in from James Bolton that went straight to the Wycombe man.

Wycombe’s dominance continued after the restart and it took two excellent saves from Griffiths, who will miss Saturday’s clash with Braintree due to being on international duty, to deny Thompson and Sam Wood.

Thompson then struck a post after Nathaniel Brown had been easily out-muscled but any hopes that this could be the turning point of the afternoon were dashed on 66 minutes.

Again, Thompson was involved as his neat return pass to Sido Jombati allowed the right back to race forward and fire past Griffiths following another one-two with Matt Bloomfield.

Halifax battled hard and could point to two saves from Matthew Ingham that kept out Sam Walker and Sean Tuton either side of the interval as evidence that Gareth Ainsworth’s side had it far from their own way. The Chairboys goalkeeper also got down well to hold a low drive from Kieran Sadier.

However, there was no denying that Wycombe were the better side and their reward came through late strikes for Max Kretzschmar and Aaron Amadi-Holloway as Town’s defence was again breached.

FC Halifax Town: Griffiths; Bolton, O’Brien, N Brown, McManus; Miller (Tuton 57), Wroe; K Roberts (Sadlier 74), James, Walker; Burrow. Unused substitutes: Glennon, MacDonald, Hattersley, Bencherif, Brown.

Wycombe Wanderers: Ingram; Jombati, Jacobson, McCarthy, Pierre; Bloomfield (Kretzschmar 66), O’Nien, Bean, Wood; Thompson (Ugwu 87), Hayes (Amadi-Holloway 66). Unused substitutes: Lynch, Stewart, Sellers.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).

Man of the Match: Garry Thompson.