Blades batter Young Owls

An Owls Reserve side made up entirely of Academy players was on the receiving end of a 4-0 battering by The Blades in a hotly contested local derby in the Pontins Holidays League fixture at Hillsborough.

Sheffield United fielded a much stronger outfit, including former Owls Leigh Bromby and Alan Quinn as well as failed summer target Billy Sharp, and the result was never really going to be in question. Rob Hulse opened the scoring for the visitors after 27 minutes, finding himself in the right place after James Ashmore's shot was cleared off the line.

Two further goals both inside the final five minutes of the half was ultimately the killer blow for Wednesday. Sheffield born forward Sharp found himself on the end of a Stephen Quinn cross for 2-0. Minutes later it was three when Hulse turned provider for Sharp to bag his second.

Early signs in the second half were ominous when Hulse rattled the cross bar, and soon after The Owls were reduced to ten men when Jamie Hadfield's late challenge on Kyle Naughton earnt him his second yellow card of the afternoon and an early bath.

The youthful Wednesday outfit did well to keep the score down after that but Lee Hendrie did add a fourth in the final minute to add the icing on the cake for the visitors.

McAuley verdict: -