A goal either side of half time saw the Owls Under-21s beaten 2-0 by Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
An exciting first half was numbed by a much quieter second, in a game where the Blades ultimately made more of their chances.
Ryan Oné and Louie Marsh did the damage for the hosts, who go top of the Professional Development league with two games in hand on second-placed Birmingham and third-placed Wednesday.
It was a lively start in S2 and Adam Adetoro had to be on his toes to deny Marsh an early breakthrough.
The big defender got back to his line after the Blades forward rounded Pierce Charles and managed to blast the effort clear.
Wednesday’s first chance fell to Favour Onukwuli, the winger playing a neat one-two with Bruno Fernandes and going one-on-one with Luke Faxon, but his shot was saved.
United had a great chance to open the scoring soon after when a ball across the box found Sai Sachdev at the back post, but the wideman’s strike was confidently blocked by Charles.
The hosts did take their next opportunity on 19 minutes, going ahead through Oné.
The 17-year-old showcased a burst of pace to the left of the Owls’ area to fire across Charles and in.
In search of a quick response, defender Sam Reed struck narrowly wide after finding himself on the edge of the Blades’ box.
Mackenzie Maltby was next to roam forward and he may have equalised were it not for a fine fingertip save by Faxon.
The second half went almost 20 minutes without incident until Fernandes stung the hands of Faxon from close range following good work from Onukwuli on the left.
However, it was the hosts who doubled their lead on 68 minutes.
A ball forward was brought down by Jay Tinsdale on the edge of the area, he laid off Marsh and the forward smashed high into the corner.
Wednesday had two opportunities with 10 minutes to go, Onukwuli and Fernandes both with shots blocked as the Owls looked for avenues back into the game.
But it was not to be and Wednesday now rely on results elsewhere if they are to finish champions with two games to go.
Wednesday: Charles, Siqueira, Otegbayo, Adetoro, Reed, Brennan, Maltby (Thornton 75), Phuthi, Buchan (Fusire 66), Onukwuli, Fernandes
