Steve Guinan doubled Cheltenham's lead on 75 minutes
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Tommy Mooney struck in injury time to give Wycombe a lift as Cheltenham seized a narrow lead in the League Two play-off semi-final.
Mooney volleyed home from close range to give the Chairboys hope ahead of Thursday's second leg at Whaddon Road.
Cheltenham had gone ahead on 43 minutes when John Finnigan latched onto Shane Duff's knockdown and drilled home.
Steve Guinan claimed their second 15 minutes from time when his shot took a cruel deflection off Roger Johnson.
Wycombe made a far better start with Ian Stonebridge and Mooney going close.
However, they were briefly rattled when Rob Lee was hurt in a challenge with Guinan and went off with a head wound that later required eight stitches.
Cheltenham, meanwhile, had posed little attacking danger but as half-time approached, Finnigan struck.
Wycombe were denied again shortly after half-time when the outstanding Duff volleyed clear Mooney's goalbound header.
At the other end, the unmarked Guinan should have done better than head wide from Grant McCann's free-kick on the right.
Duff wasted an even better chance for the visitors in the 64th minute, failing to make contact at the far post after being picked out by another free-kick from McCann.
Cheltenham looked to have sealed a decisive advantage when Guinan rounded off an excellent move but the hosts gave themselves hope when veteran Mooney struck.
Wycombe stand-in manager Steve Brown:
"We play better away from home. The lads are more relaxed and play with more confidence.
"I don't think home advantage really matters. It's just two games.
"Tommy Mooney's late goal today was fantastic. It put us back in the tie and makes for a wonderful second leg."
Cheltenham boss John Ward:
"I've told the boys not to be too disappointed. We've still got a 2-1 lead.
"It's always disappointing to concede but if I'd said at half-time we'd be a goal up at the end, we'd have taken it.
"We'll look at the second leg as an individual game we need to win. There's another good game in prospect."
Wycombe: Williams, Senda, Johnson, Antwi, Easton, Betsy, Bloomfield (Oakes 63), Lee (Burnell 37), Martin, Mooney, Stonebridge (Easter 54).
Subs Not Used: Talia, Williamson.
Goals: Mooney 90.
Cheltenham: Higgs, Gill, Caines, Duff, Armstrong, Wilson (Bell 82), Finnigan, McCann, Vincent, Guinan (Gillespie 80), Odejayi (Spencer 80).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Bird.
Booked: Guinan.
Goals: Finnigan 43, Guinan 75.
Att: 5,936
Ref: A Hall (W Midlands).
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