Owls reserves make it three in a row

This report from the Official SWFC website:

Wednesday claimed their third successive reserve team victory by putting neighbours Barnsley to the sword at Oakwell. Jon Shaw's penalty midway through the first half was enough to sink the Tykes and add to the Owls' recent victories over Wigan and Bradford.

The Sheffield lad stepped up to net from 12 yards after a strong run from Richard Evans forced a foul from Thomas Harban. The Owls made a bright start with Shaw volleying wide at the near post from Guylain Ndumbu's cross while Lewis McMahon was just too high when Chris Brunt's corner was cleared out to him.

Another dangerous Brunt delivery saw Robert Atkinson come close to putting through his own goal with a diving header and Guy Branston's header from Adam Proudlock's centre forced David Scarsella to save. Barnsley responded with Ola Tidman comfortably saving an audacious chip from Stephen McPhail before Ashley Scothern lobbed wide from Atkinson's throughball.

But it was Wednesday who went ahead 23 minutes in as Shaw drove his penalty low into the right hand corner after Evans was pulled back in the box by Harban after outpacing the full back. The Tykes' giant striker Fola Onibuje curled a shot wide before picking out Scothern with a fine crossfield ball from which the striker volleyed wide. Scothern then threatened with a low effort after displaying clever control in the box - Tidman plunging to his left to save. The Swedish keeper was to depart the action midway through the second half, after signalling that he was unable to continue.

He had earlier been injured in a collision with Onibuje. Seconds after he had left the field, Wednesday were a coat of paint away from doubling their advantage as Ndumbu's header came back off the far post. Barnsley were also denied by the woodwork when Onibuje's header crashed against the bar and the striker also rifled just over the top.

Proudlock nicked his effort just wide while Brunt was also off target from long distance. Lewis McMahon was unfortunate to see his effort clip the upright after working himself a shooting opportunity three minutes from time but one goal was enough for the Owls.

Half-time: Barnsley 0-1 Owls

Colin West's post match comments:
"Again we did exceptionally well in certain stages of the game. We started well, as we have in the last two or three games, putting them on the back foot. Adam and 'Sungu' looked lively up front and got in behind a lot of times. The final ball wasn't really too bad but we just didn't have enough to catch them once we'd got in behind a bit."

"Richard Evans was very positive every time he picked the ball up, getting down the line and putting a few good balls into the box. Then he received the ball ten yards over the halfway line, he went on a decent dribble, a bit of pace and power into the box and he was fetched down for a penalty. Jon Shaw is quite confident at the moment and he stepped up to put the penalty away - no problem."