Owls second string off to winning start

The Owls Reserves kicked off their 2005/06 season with a 2-0 win over Walsall infront of a decent sized crowd at Hillsborough. A goal after 10 minutes put the Owls on their way after a good move involving Ritchie Partridge and trialist Steve Claridge. The veteran 39 year old striker, invited to take part in the Reserve fixture amidst Wednesday's lack of fit strikers, played a neat one two before Partridge rounded the keeper and neatly lofted the ball into the roof of the net over a last ditch tackle by a Walsall defender.

Three minutes later it was 2-0. This time academy forward Danny Rett got his name on the scoresheet when he successfully harassed the Saddlers' backline, eventually getting in behind both keeper and defender to slide the ball into an unguarded net.

Claridge's performance was the talking point of the match but it was promising to see both Drissa Diallo and Graham Coughlan put in 90 minutes. Both experienced defenders have been missing from the start of the season with respective injuries, but now both are expected to put pressure on for a first team place.

There was also lively performances by Kyle Fores-Chambers at right-back, and from winger Ritchie Partridge.

Half-time: Owls 2-0 Walsall

Unfortunately the Owls failed to create too many clear cut chances in the second half. Both sides kept their defences tight before Sturrock threw on both Adam Proudlock and Ritchie Partridge with half an hour to go.

Burton O'Brien made his first showing in Wednesday colours with 15 minutes to go and the young Scottish midfielder had a shot charged down by the away defence, as the Owls failed to spark upfront to salvage anything from the game. Wednesday go on in search of their first league win of the season, but more worryingly for Sturrock is the fact that his side have scored just once in 270 minutes of football so far this season.

Paul Sturrock's post match comments:
"I told them it was up to them to jump through the door and a lot of them did. The boys showed a fantastic attitude in the game, which is what I want to see in the reserves. I was very pleased with the two centre-backs, who were very competitive. "