By Ross Jeavons
Wycombe fell to their first defeat in seven games at Meadow Lane on Saturday afternoon, with a second half strike from Richard Butcher the difference between the two sides.
Paul Lambert rested six first team regulars, opting for a new 4-3-3 formation as the Blues kept one eye on their impending playoff semi-final.
It appeared to be a wise decision early on as the Chairboys ran rampant in front of an amazingly vocal home support, and they could have been one up after just two minutes.
Russell Martin drifted a dangerous cross over to tfhe far post, where Scott McGleish lay in wait to nod the ball towards goal.
The ex-Barnet striker was denied his 200th career goal however, as he saw his header cannon back off the post.
John Sutton was one of those to return to the starting line up and could have bagged his seventh goal of the season moments later, when his effort from 25 yards flew just over the crossbar, with County keeper Russell Holt well beaten.
Delroy Facey was a handful as usual, barging past the Magpies' back four on a number of occasions.
The on-loan forward showed a different side to his game ten minutes in, back-heeling the ball delightfully into the path of Sam Stockley - whose cross just evaded a number of on-rushing Wanderers players.
Facey could have had a goal himself ten minutes later, when he headed straight into the arms of Holt from a tight angle.
The game momentarily turned sour after a poor late challenge from Andre Boucaud enraged fans in front of the dugout twenty nine minutes in.
The ex-Reading midfielder will have felt lucky to stay on the pitch, as referee Mr Oliver chose only to produce a yellow card.
The half hour mark signaled a change in the tide of the game, as relegation threatened County went on the attack, spurred on by their raucous support.
Winger Rhys Weston was a constant thorn in the side of Sam Stockley, coming close with a rasping long range drive that just flew past Fielding's far post.
Sam Stockley picked up his first yellow card of the game on the stroke of half time for a late tackle on the touchline, a challenge that would cost him dear later on in the game.
If Wycombe had the best of the first half it was the Magpies who easily dominated the second, as the Chairboys failed to contend with an admirable hard working performance from Ian McParland's side.
The away support had to put up with numerous heart stopping goalmouth scrambles in front of Frank Fielding before the deadlock was finally broken, Richard Butcher denying Paul Lambert's side a record 20th clean sheet of the season.
It was Weston again the instigater, as left both Stockley and McCracken in his wake on the right hand side, before leaving the ball to Jason Lee to flick over the top of the Wanderers back four.
The defence were caught static as Butcher nipped through, coolly lofting the ball over Fielding to send a deafening roar reverberating around the centre of Nottingham.
Sergio Torres was thrown into the fray as the Blues looked to claw something back but they couldn't contend with the fighting spirit of County, who came close to adding a second when Neil Mackenzie's free-kick flew just wide.
There was one heart warming moment for the 536 traveling fans, as hot youth prospects Robert Rice and Matt Phillips were introduced for their professional football debuts.
Phillips, aged just 17, is only in the first year of his two year youth team scholarship - a testament to the depth of young talent being produced down at Adams Park.
Both players though were helpless to prevent the Wanderers slipping to defeat, as the oldest club in the Football League sealed their status in League Two for another year.
The misery was completed for the away side when Sam Stockley picked up his second yellow card of the game, dragging back his marker after he found himself well beaten on the right wing.
'Stocks' had to endure the mocking jeers of the home support as he trudged off the field, clearly frustrated after a wretched afternoon for the ex-Colchester right back.
The final whistle gave the green light for a party atmosphere at Meadow Lane, with Wycombe left with the consolation that they can approach their last game of the season against Bradford with no new injury worries.
