Late flurry flatters Owls in cup clash

The Owls reserves progressed from the group stage of the Pontins Holiday Cup competition after a comprehensive 5-1 win over Rochdale. Ashley Scothern 31st minute goal had cancelled out Richard Wood's 26th minute opener.

But the Owls defender restored the lead seven minutes before the break after Graeme Lee's header was fumbled into Wood's path. Lee was to score one of his own, 73 minutes into the game, with a spectacular diving header from a Matthew Hamshaw corner. At 3-1 the game was done and dusted.

The second string Owls line-up added two late strikes in the final two minutes, thanks to Danny Reet and Liam Needham respectively.

Half-time: Owls 2-1 Rochdale

Colin West's post match comments:
"I thought they did well from start to finish. The gaffer's made it plain as day what he wants from them and I think they're doing that as regards the workrate, tempo and closing down. It took us time to get our game going but we ran out comfortable winners in the end."

"It is difficult sometimes with reserves as you are asking people to do things on matchday, rather than having worked on it during the week, as you don't get that much time to work with them. But when you have people like Matt Hamshaw who can deliver good balls into the box, especially from the left, and Craig Armstrong put a good ball in which Graeme Lee headed across for Woody's second, you should be looking to score from them."