Josh Scowen’s first-half strike and a late Garath McCleary goal made it four successive wins for promotion-chasing Wycombe in their 2-0 victory against Stanley.

The Chairboys took the lead in the 18th minute when a Jason McCarthy cross was blocked and it fell to Scowen on the edge of the area and he rifled the ball low into the Stanley net.

Wanderers pressed for more, with a Sam Vokes strike which was touched away by keeper Lukas Jensen, and Lewis Wing rifled over.

In between, the Reds did have the ball in the net but Sean McConville’s far-post effort was ruled out for offside.

It was an even game with plenty of chances, Brandon Hanlan running clean through for Wycombe after 50 minutes but he was denied by the legs of Jensen.

Stanley, in the relegation places, were always a threat and Wycombe keeper Max Stryjek produced a double save in the 59th minute to deny Shaun Whalley and then Tommy Leigh an equaliser.

It was on a knife edge but Wycombe broke in the 90th minute and McCleary put the ball between Jensen’s legs.

John Coleman said: “It was a marked improvement on our last home game (a defeat against Lincoln). I think anyone watching wouldn’t be able to tell who was the form side and who were in the relegation places.

“We gave as good as we got, they scored one good goal and one lucky goal and the game hinges on the goal which is ruled out for offside.

“Everyone around us lost so we didn’t lose any ground, but if we got what I thought we deserved from this game we could have made up some ground.

“The positives are we created more chances and hopefully they will start dropping into the net. We snatched at them a bit and that’s what happens when you do not score a lot of goals but we have to keep going.”