Owls hit Sheffield for 7

The Owls kicked off their 2005/06 pre-season campaign with a more-than comfortable 7-1 victory over amateur side Sheffield FC, the world's oldest football club. Manager Paul Sturrock opted to go for a mix of first team players and youth squad members. Of the players more likely to feature when the season kicks off in 3 weeks were David Lucas in goal with Richard Wood, Lee Bullen and new signing John Hills infront of him. Glenn Whelan was partnered in midfield by trialist Anton Robinson, whose identity had been kept a secret up until now. Chris Brunt played out on the left wing whilst youngster Danny Reet occupied the right.

Steven MacLean and Lee Peacock played upfront together and both bagged themselves a couple of goals during the course of the evening.

Brunt opened the scoring as early as the second minute with a low free-kick from 20 yards, whilst Reet made it 2-0 after 18 minutes with a close range effort. The 33rd minute brought up Wednesday's third when Lee Peacock headed in from a Rory McArdle cross. The home side pulled one back just before the break thanks to a fine left-foot effort by Cobnell.

Half-time: Sheffield FC 1-3 Owls

Paul Sturrock's side grabbed two in two minutes to kill the game off as a contest when a Steven MacLean penalty in the 58th minute and a second for Lee Peacock just after took the score to 5-1. MacLean grabbed his second after 84 minutes and the scoring was complete four minutes from time when Chris Brunt, who had opened the scoring, sent in a bullet header into the back of the net for 7-1.

Sturrock remained philosophical after the game stating that fitness was the aim of the game at this stage of the pre-season campaign. Another Owls XI will take on Stocksbridge Park Steels in two days time.

Paul Sturrock's post match comments:
"Obviously, the result is unimportant. It was important to get 90 minutes under our belts. I was pleased with the runouts for Lee Peacock and Steven MacLean, especially as Steven's been out for so long. They got better as the game went on."

"Anton (Robinson) did okay but we will be looking at lots of trialists in the coming weeks. We have another one here from abroad who can't play because he is contracted to a football club."

AnzOwls' verdict: These early pre-season results are effectively meaningless...but it's always nice to win.