A goal rush inside the first 23 minutes, a second half penalty and a last minute strike saw Wednesday stun Hartlepool United and leave Victoria Park with a deserved 5-0 victory.

An own goal from Pools' defender Paul Murray kickstarted the rout and strikes from Giles Coke, Neil Mellor, a penalty by Marcus Tudgay and a late Clinton Morrison goal ensured Wednesday's excellent start to the League One campaign continued.

The Owls made six changes to the starting line-up at Victoria Park from the midweek cup clash against Scunthorpe United.

Captain Darren Purse came back into the side while Tudgay and Mellor shaped Wednesday's attack. Also included were Tommy Spurr, Lewis Buxton and Coke.

Wednesday made a bright start to the game and Coke almost put Wednesday ahead after just three minutes.

Following a flurry of corners taken by Gary Teale, the ball fell to Coke inside the 18-yard box and his low strike had the beating of Scott Flinders in the Hartlepool goal but was cleared off the line at the back post.

The game was off to a fast pace and it was the hosts that were next to threaten moments later when striker Adam Boyd bent a curling effort wide of Nicky Weaver's goal.

But it was the Owls who were off to a flier and got their noses in front following a quick break from a Hartlepool attack.

Coke took possession deep inside Wednesday's half and played a long ball up to Mellor, who stormed down the left. The striker only had Coke to aim for in the middle but his cross was met by Pools' defender Paul Murray and the defender inadvertently slotted into his own net.

Things got even better for Wednesday two minutes later as Coke, who has enjoyed a stunning start to the season, doubled the Owls' advantage.

Tudgay's cross from the right was cut out by a defender but Mellor was first to react and gathered possession before picking out Coke in the middle and the former Motherwell man struck emphatically past Flinders.

The opening 15 minutes had stunned the hosts, who offered little going forward. Murray had the best chance and tried to make amends for his earlier misfortune but fired wide of the target from 20 yards.

Wednesday were looking galvanised at Victoria Park and too strong for Hartlepool in all departments and it was no surprise when Mellor added his name to the scoresheet.

Pools failed to clear their lines but Wednesday were relentless going forward and capitalised on some poor defending as Darren Potter played a through ball into the path of Mellor, who effortlessly found the top corner.

Hartlepool had a late rally towards the end of the first period with a number of crosses into the box and might have pulled a goal back in stoppage time.

Midfielder Joe Gamble took aim from inside the area and his powerful drive looked destined for the target but Mark Beevers got his body in the way to clear and the Owls went in at half time with a comfortable lead.

Five minutes after the restart and Wednesday were threatening again, this time through Tudgay. Spurr whipped in a free kick from just inside Pools' half and Tudgay rose the highest with his header flashing inches wide.

Hartlepool came out for the second half with slightly more sting about their attack and Beevers was cautioned on 53 minutes for a lunging challenge on substitute Fabian Yantorno.

As the hour mark approached, so it seemed would Wednesday's fourth goal. Having sustained a period a pressure from Hartlepool, the Owls broke two-on-one with Coke and Mellor charging towards goal but Coke's ball into the middle had too much purchase and fizzed just past Mellor.

Andy Monkhouse stung the palms of Weaver on 65 minutes as the Pools' man hit a volley from all of 30 yards which the Wednesday keeper was equal to.

Wednesday's fourth goal did arrive and this time from the penalty spot as Mellor was brought down in the box by Flinders who was perhaps lucky not to see red as the Wednesday striker had rounded the goalkeeper, but that proved irrelevant as Tudgay converted the spot kick.

Mellor was too much to handle for Hartlepool all afternoon but that was his last contribution as he made way for Morrison on 74 minutes.

There was time for one more goal though and it came through Morrison. The Wednesday hitman latched onto a loose ball in the area from Spurr's strike and expertly picked out the top corner to make it five.

The packed away stand at Victoria Park had plenty to sing and shout about with their sides' dominating performance and a thoroughly deserved three points.

Hartlepool: Flinders, Haslam, Collins, Liddle, Horwood, Sweeney, Gamble, Murray (Yantorno 46), Brown (McSweeney 77), Boyd (Hartley 68), Monkhouse

Substitutes: Rafferty, Behan, Fredriksen, Larkin

Owls: Weaver; Buxton, Purse, Beevers, Spurr, Teale (O'Connor 63), Potter, Coke (Miller 76), Sedgwick, Mellor (Morrison 74), Tudgay

Substitutes: Jameson, Otsemobor, Jones, Heffernan

Attendance: 4,084