Stockport County’s noisy fans made the long journey back north in fine spirits after Stephen Gleeson, a substitute, ensured the first leg of their Coca-Cola League Two play-offs semi-final with Wycombe Wanderers remained all square.

Gleeson’s swerving long-range shot cancelled out Delroy Facey’s first-half opener in a bad-tempered evening at the normally tranquil Adams Park. The match was only four minutes old when Darren Deadman, the referee, showed the first of four yellow cards in an opening half during which there were also two flare-ups between the backroom staff of both clubs.

Dominic Blizzard was the first in the book for hauling back Sergio Torres before Tommy Doherty, the Wycombe midfield player, went close twice, first by sending a long-range shot that John Ruddy, the Stockport goalkeeper, could only parry and then chipping a shot narrowly over from closer range.

Torres was booked for a late challenge on Michael Rose, who provided the cross for Stockport’s most encouraging moment of the half, a back-post header from Anthony Pilkington that Frank Fielding, the home team’s goalkeeper, did well to tip over.

It was Ruddy’s error at the other end that gave Wycombe first blood, although Facey had plenty to do after the 21-year-old, who is on loan from Everton, hit a clearance straight on to the striker’s chest. Gareth Owen, the centre back, was alert to the danger, but could not stop Facey powering goalwards and then beating Ruddy with a well-placed shot.

Stockport had been able to field Liam Dickinson, their top scorer, after a fitness test on a hamstring problem, but he was in the wars again when Doherty felled him in front of the dugouts to earn a booking and prompt a slanging match between both managers.

The visiting team, who had thrashed Wycombe 6-0 at home earlier in the season, spurned a chance to equalise on the hour mark when Tommy Rowe could not connect with Dickinson’s inviting ball across the penalty area. But Gleeson, who had replaced Blizzard at the break, made sure parity was restored with a sweetly struck effort from outside the box with eight minutes remaining that gave Fielding no chance.

Wycombe Wanderers (4-4-2): F Fielding – R Martin, L Johnson, M Williamson – S Oakes, T Doherty (sub: M Phillips, 72min), G Holt, S Torres – D Facey (sub: J Sutton 87), S McGleish (sub: L Knight 72). Substitutes not used: J Young, D McCracken. Booked: Torres, Doherty, Oakes, Martin, Woodman.

Stockport County (4-3-3): J Ruddy – J Smith, G Owen, M Raynes (sub: J McNulty, 15), M Rose – D Blizzard (sub: S Gleeson, 46), G Dicker, P Turnbull – A Pilkington, R Rowe (sub: L McSweeney, 82), L Dickinson. Substitutes not used: C Logan, A Proudlock. Booked: Blizzard, Owen.

Referee: D Deadman
Attendance: 6,371