Madine Makes Owls Return...

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.

Big Gaz struts his stuff

The Geordie frontman won plenty of early flick-ons against Blues trialist Darcy Blake as the Owls sought to utilise their obvious height advantage. But with McCabe his closest team-mate, tucked in just behind him, there was often no one there to flick it on to.

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.