Exeter City 2, Wycombe Wanderers 1.

WANDERERS lost the lead and their unbeaten run as Exeter City came from behind to beat them.

Peter Murphy’s header had given the table toppers an early lead and as they set about their hosts in the opening stages it looked like another good result on the road was a formality for Wanderers.

But after man of the match David Wheeler dragged the Grecians level it was Wycombe’s turn to endure heavy pressure that unsettled them.

Scot Bennett netted what proved to be the winner on the hour as Wanderers suffered their first defeat on the road since April and saw their ten match streak without a loss come crashing to a conclusion.

Defeat isn’t something Wanderers have had to contend with too often this season - and despite their first loss since August they remain top of the pile on goal difference - but there was a surprising lack of a response to falling behind.

It was all a far cry from the opening stages as Blues settled into their stride quickly and were in front inside five minutes. Sam Wood scurried past his marker and found more than enough time and space to send over a perfect cross for Murphy; a flex of the neck muscles later and the midfielder had his fifth goal of the season with a textbook header.

City responded as Graham Cummins’ touch with his chest in trying to collect a searching ball from Craig Woodman has too heavy, before the striker had an even better chance as an incisive pass cut out the Blues backline and sent him away but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Wanderers’ industrious side simply wanted it more, prepared to put in the graft and stop their opponents from playing. That was evidenced by Wood refusing to give up on a lost cause to chase down an overhit cross and pulling the ball back for Joe Jacobson to ping in another cross that Murphy headed at keeper Christy Pym.

Then Max Kretzschmar caught Arron Davies dallying in possession in midfield and fed Paul Hayes after stealing the ball off his opponent, but Pym dug him out of a hole with a wonderful save low down to keep out the Wycombe captain.

Blues had a let-off as Christian Ribeiro charged down a Matt Ingram clearance and the ball flew wide of the goal when it could have gone anywhere.

It was a warning that went unheeded and City drew level on the half hour. Once more Cummins broke the offside trap and his initial shot was parried away as Ingram rushed out to block, but the ball ran loose for Wheeler to smash the rebound high into the net for the equaliser.

Back came Wanderers though as an eye-catching move around the edge of the Exeter boss had the hosts at sixes and sevens and presented a shooting opportunity for Jacobson; his effort beat Pym but was hooked away off the line by the stretching Bennett.

There was now a spring in Exeter’s stride following their equalising goal however and had Cummins not inadvertently blocked a shot from team mate Jimmy Keohane – and with Matt Grimes spooning the rebound high over the bar – things could have been worse for Blues.

A flying Wheeler then flicked his header just the wrong side of the post as City started to gain the upper hand, and Wanderers were probably relieved to reach the midway point of a terrifically entertaining match all square after weathering some heavy pressure.

City adjusted their formation at the interval and sent Bennett forward from the back to unsettle the Blues defence, and his presence created the space for a shot from Wheeler that Ingram batted away.

Before then however Alfie Mawson flicked a weak header to Pym when left unattended at a Jacobson free kick and Wood shanked an acrobatic overhead kick wildly off target when a header might have been a wiser option.

And it was that man Bennett who had the next word as City boss Paul Tisdale’s reshuffle worked a treat. In similar circumstances to the equalising goal Ribeiro’s header from an inswinging Grimes free kick was well saved by an alert Ingram but skipper Bennett was on hand to sweep home the loose ball and Wanderers suddenly found themselves behind.

Blues boss Gareth Ainsworth responded by making a double substitution as Steven Craig and Matt Bloomfield replaced Cowan-Hall and Kretzschmar.

Bloomfield’s first touch within a minute of coming on almost conjured an equaliser as a Hayes pass was jabbed over the top from ten yards by the long-serving midfielder.

But Wanderers lacked the intensity of the first half and rarely looked like pulling something out of the fire, as epitomised by Wood’s disappointing volley that skewed well wide of the target.

Craig was upended as Pym scrabbled around on the floor trying to reach a loose ball and had Keohane been able to climb a couple of inches higher and directed his header on target at the other end it might have been game over.

Blues were still in it but were wasteful in their finishing as substitute Matt McClure’s tame shot was easily saved by Pym and Craig’s header flew wide.

Wanderers: Ingram, Jombati, Pierre, Mawson, Jacobson, Cowan-Hall (sub Craig), Scowen, Murphy, Wood, Kretzschmar (sub Bloomfield), Hayes (sub McClure). Substitutes not used: Richardson, Walker, Lewis, Rowe.

Attendance: 3,129 (192 from Wycombe)