Hartlepool humbled Wednesday at Hillsborough to reach the last 16 of the Papa John’s Trophy.

The North East-side raced into an early 2-0 lead through Mark Shelton and a Jaden Brown own goal.

Will Goodwin all but put the tie to bed after the break and Pools left S6 comfortable winners.

Darren Moore rang the changes but the visitors had too much on the night having stamped their authority in the early throes.

First, on 11 minutes, Eddie Jones delivered a hanging cross to the back post to which Shelton applied the finishing touch.

Then, just two minutes later, Pools doubled their lead in the most bizarre of circumstances. Brown was in possession to the left of the penalty area and sent a backpass across Joe Wildsmith and straight into the unguarded goal.

The stunned Owls launched an immediate attempt to get back into the contest and Hartlepool had keeper Jonathan Mitchell to thank for thwarting Theo Corbeanu on the angle.

Wildsmith was called into action with a diving save to prevent Joe Grey putting Pools almost out of sight before Antony Sweeney’s men squandered a golden opportunity to make it 3-0.

Jamie Sterry crossed from the right and the advancing Martin Smith was odds-on to stab home but somehow conspired to place his shot wide of the target.

Ciaran Brennan poked past the post just before half time, after which Wednesday needed an uplift all over the pitch.

Jack Hunt, Josh Windass and Barry Bannan came on from the bench but it was Saido Berahino presented with the first chance of the second period, volleying into the midriff of Mitchell after good work from Corbeanu.

And the Owls were made to pay as Hartlepool charged upfield on 59 minutes and this time did extend the advantage.

Goodwin had one attempt from six yards cleared off the line by Windass, who saw the rebound fall straight back into the path of the same player and the remainder of the game, like the finish, was academic.

Wednesday: Wildsmith, Patterson, Brennan (Adedoyin 85), Brown, Byers (Hunt 46), Wing (Agbontohoma 69), Dele-Bashiru, Corbeanu, Shodipo (Bannan 46), Sow (Windass 46), Berahino