It might not have felt it at the time, trudging down Wembley Way after seeing their side beaten on penalties, but for Wycombe Wanderers fans the 2014/15 campaign was a remarkable one for the Blues.

Having only survived the drop to the Conference on the final day of the 2013/14 season, Wanderers provided one of the stories of the season, leading League Two before eventually falling away and securing a place in the Play-Off Final.

Under the guidance of the energetic and enigmatic Gareth Ainsworth, the Buckinghamshire club took the lead in extra time against Southend United at Wembley via a Daniel Bentley own goal. But Joe Pigott levelled for the Shrimpers in the final minute of extra time to force penalties.

On spot-kicks the Blues were cruelly beaten by Phil Brown’s men, just minutes after they had looked set for a place in League One for the first time in three years.

The challenge facing Ainsworth now is to lift a squad who may have missed their best opportunity to win promotion.

Wanderers made the ideal start to the new campaign by sweeping aside York City 3-0 on Saturday thanks to goals from Anthony Stewart, Aaron Amadi-Holloway and an own goal, giving them a perfect start to the new campaign.

And speaking afterwards, Ainsworth explained the importance of not getting ahead of themselves two seasons after nearly slipping out of the Football League.

He said: “Sixty-one points is our target. We’ve got 58 more to go. There’s no talk of promotion.

“The wounds of Torquay United (when Wanderers needed a win to stay in the Football League) are still raw, they still hurt me.

“That day is in my memory a lot and I will do everything I can on the touchline to make sure I never go back to that day.

“It’s been the biggest learning curve I’ve ever had in football. We had a fantastic season last year, but at the moment let’s just get to where we want to be in year two of our plan which is 61 points.”

It took the Blues just eight minutes to put Wembley behind them at Adams Park on Saturday with centre-back Stewart marking his return to the club by scoring on his second debut.

The 22-year-old turned down the chance to remain with the Buckinghamshire side last summer in favour of a switch to League One Crewe Alexandra. The move did not work out and now the Brixton-born defender is making up for lost time with Wycombe.

Former Watford pair Stephen McGinn and Luke O’Nien have moved to Adams Park this summer after impressing on trial during pre-season.

McGinn arrives after a season in Scotland with Dundee and has previously played in League One with Sheffield United and Shrewsbury Town and in the Championship with the Hornets. But after just 13 Scottish Premier League appearances for Dundee last term, he has moved south once more.

A cultured passer, the left-footed Scot has also represented Scotland at Under-21 level.

O’Nien, 20, was released by Watford this summer after making just one substitute appearance for the first team and spending the whole of last season on loan at Conference South side Wealdstone.

A tireless worker with an unquenchable thirst to learn, the Hemel Hempstead-born midfielder can play anywhere across midfield and has also featured at centre-back during his Under-18 days at Vicarage Road.

On Tuesday night the Blues were knocked out of the League Cup, 1-0 at home to Championship side Fulham.

Ainsworth’s side battled hard and went toe-to-toe with the west Londoners but ultimately came up short as a goal from Swedish international Alex Kacaniklic settled the contest.

Unlike Barnet's own tie at Millwall, which went to extra time, the game was settled within 90 minutes - a distinct advantage for a small squad.

Wycombe Wanderers XI v Fulham (11.8.15): Ingram; Jombati, Rowe, Stewart, Jacobson; Harriman, Bean, McGinn, Wood; Thompson, Amadi-Holloway.