Late Boro goal beats Owls

This report from the Official website...

A late goal from Middlesbrough’s £8.15m new boy Massimo Maccarone condemned SWFC to an unfortunate defeat at a rain lashed Hillsborough. Jon Beswetherick had got the Owls off to a flying start with an early header, but Boro responded quickly through Frank Queudrue before Maccarone was on hand to earn the Teesiders a late win with a firm header.

It was Boro who made the early running with Gareth Southgate shooting just wide before Kevin Pressman made a fine one handed save from Carlos Marinelli’s 20 yard blast. It was with their first real attack of the evening that SWFC forged ahead on nine minutes, after a move started and finished by Jon Beswetherick on his first start at Hillsborough.

The ex-Plymouth defender swept a searching pass out to Derek Geary on the opposite flank and when the Irishman swung a cross over, Beswetherick stole in to bury home his header via the left hand upright to mark an explosive induction to S6 action.

There was a let off for the Owls on 14 minutes when Jon Greening’s rocket shot bounced back off the crossbar and Maccarone hooked the rebound over the top. However, Steve McClaren’s men levelled matters on 21 minutes, when Queudrue was up higher to power home from Carlos Marinelli’s pinpoint left wing free kick.

Great goalkeeping and defending combined to keep the scores level on 28 minutes, Pressman reacting brilliantly to push away Noel Whelan’s header and Craig Armstrong reacting quickly to make a superb block from Maccarone’s close range follow-up.

More lightening reflexes followed from the veteran stopper three minutes later, clutching Southgate’s header right on the line at the second attempt. Whelan then squandered a chance, heading over the top unmarked, while Simon Donnelly was too high with a volley.

Leon Knight was close to opening his Hillsborough account with a right foot swerver which Mark Schwarzer tipped around the post.

Half-time: Middlesbrough 1-1 Owls

Pressman again had to be on his mettle to block a powerful header from Ugo Ehiogu a minute from the break. After a slow opening, the second period finally sparked to life on the hour when a swift block from Steven Haslam diverted Whelan’s drive away from goal. The former Leeds man had another opportunity on 70 minutes but could only direct a weak header straight at Pressman.

Tricky work from Knight on the angle of the box earned SWFC a corner when the nippy forward’s shot was diverted away from goal by Mark Wilson’s challenge. There was almost a bizarre own goal eight minutes from time when Robbie Stockdale’s attempted chest back to Schwarzer almost looped into the corner of the Boro net.

With four minutes to go, Maccarone headed Boro into the lead for the first time from a deep centre, planting his effort past Pressman. Wednesday attempted a fightback with Shefki Kuqi sending a header too high in the final minute, when Geary’s cross-shot almost caught Schwarzer out.