Owls edge Latics in pre-season finale

The Owls finished their 2002/03 pre-season with a unconvincing 2-1 win at Boundary Park over Division Two side Oldham Athletic.

Terry Yorath's men have toured Scandinavia and Scotland in the last fortnight, and it showed on Saturday afternoon with the Wednesday players looking tired. The Wednesday boss would've been hoping Oldham would provide a similar test that they can expect from newly promoted Stoke City when the season kicks off next weekend.

Oldham, who have had something of an inconsistent pre-season, will have been kicking themselves come the final whistle, as they blew chance after chance to bury the Owls. In the end goals from Simon Donnelly and a fifth in pre-season for Dutchman Gerald Sibon were good enough to seal Wednesday's fourth pre-season win in seven games.

The game was certainly a test for the back three of David Burrows, Leigh Bromby and make-shift defender Trond-Egil Soltvedt. Yorath has clearly spelt out his desire to buy a "beast of a centre-back", but with the Owls missing out on an estimated £2million with the ITV Digital collapse.

The Owls were on the backfoot for most of the first half, and were lucky to go in at the break on level terms. The home side scuffed several decent chances in the first half, whilst only Shefki Kuqi's persistent running gave a hint of an Owls goal. On more than one occasion he troubled Australian keeper Les Pogliacomi, but the former Stockport County forward was yet again denied a pre-season goal.

In the 35th minute the Latics took the lead. Everyone in the Owls defence missed a right-wing Oldham cross which fell to New Zealand international Chris Killen. He put the ball back into the danger area to leave Tony Carss with a simple tap in finish.

Five minutes later Oldham introduced John Sheridan, an Owls legend in his own right, into the game. In the second half John's younger brother Darren Sheridan also came on as a substitute.

With just two minutes before half-time Wednesday equalised. Shefki Kuqi nodded down Craig Armstrong's cross, whilst Alan Quinn's powerful shot was blocked. The ball fell to Simon Donnelly who made no hesitation in sliding the ball into the back of the net.

Half-time: Oldham 1-1 Owls

Oldham continued to blow good chances when the second half kicked off. None more so than debutant Chris Killen who somehow steered his header wide of the goal in the 64th minute. It was to prove costly for his side too, as just four minutes later the Owls took the lead for the first time.

Sibon picked up the ball at the halfway line before dribbling to the edge of the Latics' penalty box. He then let rip with a 25 yard pinpoint accuracy drive that left Athletic keeper Pogliacomi with no chance.

There was bad news for the Owls in the 73rd minute when veteran keeper Kevin Pressman was forced to leave the field after a nasty clash of heads with Kiwi striker Killen. South African shotstopper Paul Evans stepped in for the final quarter of an hour. It was revealed after the game that Pressman will be fit and ready for the season opener at Hillsborough next weekend.

Alan Quinn nearly capped off the game with a third Wednesday goal, but his 87th minute effort was tipped wide.

In his post match comments Yorath didn't try to hide the fact that his players performed below par, and looked a tired outfit. That was surely to be expected with the Wednesday players going through what Yorath promised to be their toughest yet.

"Oldham were the better side and we were lucky to win. But we've had a hard week in training, and the Middlesbrough match as well, and our energy levels were poor. Now we'll look forward to next week."