Madine
Makes Owls Return as U21s Fight Back for Blues Draw
By Aiden Cusick
G
|
ary Madine played 45 minutes of the Owls 1-1 draw with
Birmingham City this afternoon, in a game which also saw a return to action for
midfielder David Prutton.
But it was substitute Simon Hanna’s late header which earned
a point for Wednesday, who fell behind to Kyle McFarlane’s first-half tap in.
There was plenty of first-team experience on show at
Middlewood with the likes of Rhys McCabe, Paul Corry and Rafael Floro each getting
a full-90 minutes under their belts.
Madine, who was placed on an intense training regime
following his release from prison two weeks ago, went close for Wednesday on
several occasions, before making way for Manny Dieseruvwe at the break.
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| Big Gaz struts his stuff |
Madine had no such problem from set-plays though, and forced
Blues keeper Callum Preston in to a last-ditch tip over the bar with a header
from Adam Hinchliffe’s Chris Lines-esque, diagonal corner after 12 minutes.
The same source carved out another chance for the big man
just seconds later, but he got his angles slightly wrong and the ball was
eventually gathered at the far post.
The Blues gave Neil Thompson’s side an early warning-sign
moments later when winger Koby Arthur turned Seanna Foster inside out before
seeing his cross blocked for a corner.
But the lively Arthur wasn’t to be denied for a second time;
picking the ball up on half-way, he skipped through the Owls midfield and
pinged a lovely ball through to Chike Kandi, whose cross-cum-shot was tapped in
by an unmarked McFarlane at the far
post after half-an-hour.
Birmingham were firmly in the game at this point following
that early Owls pressure and Liam Truslove’s 20-yard-drive only narrowly flew
wide of Joe Wildsmith’s right-hand post.
Wednesday rallied again before the break and should’ve
scored when trialist Jamal Branker’s excellent first touch put him through on
goal. His cut back found Hinchliffe, whose shot was cleared off the line by
Blake.
And the former Cardiff City man was in the same place again
moments later to deny Madine, after Preston tipped Taylor McKenzie’s header, a
carbon-copy of Madine’s earlier chance, out for another corner.
The second half saw Wednesday playing against the wind and
Wildsmith made his only real save just a few minutes after the restart, palming
a deflected free-kick low past his left-hand post.
Hanna replaced Branker shortly after and drew Wednesday
level within minutes of entering the field. Floro made himself a yard of space
down the left and his right-footed cross surprised the Blues defence in
glancing off the top of Hanna’s
head, beyond Preston and in to the bottom corner. The young keeper was rooted
to the spot.
The Owls sensed blood and it was another sub, Charlie Dawes,
who was next to test Preston. He spotted a gap in the Blues defence and managed
to dart though it unchallenged before his tame shot from the edge of the box
was well-gathered.
But Dawes, sporting a Beckham-esque, 90’s haircut, went even
closer with five minutes to go, fooling his full-back by cutting on to his left
and firing a fierce drive which Preston had to push to safety.
There would be one last chance for the home side, when
Dieseruvwe’s determined run found Corry but he fired well over after seeing his
initial shot saved.
The Owls face Hartlepool at home on Wednesday in the Central
League Cup.
Teams:
Wednesday U21s
Wildsmith; Foster, McKenzie, Fenwick, Floro; Prutton
(Dawes), Corry; Branker* (Hanna), McCabe, Hinchliffe; Madine (Dieseruvwe).
Subs: Lambin, Beatson.
Goal: Hanna, 70.
Birmingham City U21s
Preston; Cogley, Blake, Kelly, Deadfield; Sutherland,
Truslove, Webb, Arthur; McFarlane, Kandi.
Subs: Hales, Trueman, McGee, O'Neil, Cooper.
Goal: McFarlane, 30.
