Under-18s back in action this weekend

26 March 2019

After three weeks without a fixture, our high-flying Under-18s return to action on Saturday.

The Owls academy have been outstanding throughout the term and remain firm title contenders.

Having seen the recent clash with Coventry earlier this month postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, rivals Leeds leapfrogged the Owls to the top of the table.

The home clash with Coventry has been rescheduled for Tuesday 16 April (1.30pm).

But it’s still very much in Wednesday’s hands, who are just one point behind the leaders but have two games in hand over the Whites.

	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1. Leeds	25	16	2	7	+18	50
2. SWFC	23	14	7	2	+41	49
3. Burnley	23	14	3	6	+18	45
4. N Forest	25	13	5	7	+17	44
5. Sheff Utd	22	10	6	6	+1	36
6. Barnsley	25	9	5	11	-2	32
7. B'ham	23	8	3	12	-9	27
8. Bolton	22	7	2	13	-16	23
9. Crewe	23	6	3	14	-32	21
10. Hull	24	5	5	14	-11	20

The U18 professional Development season is split into two regions; North and South.

Each team plays those from their region home and away (18 games), while also facing every side from the opposite region once (10 games) - with the host club alternated every other season.

The top two from each division then compete in the play-offs for the national title.

Andy Holdsworth’s side, who have five games to play in the regular season, face a tough trip on Saturday.

Wednesday travel to U18 Professional Development South League leaders Cardiff, who go into the game in good form having defeated Nottingham Forest and Leeds before the international break.

The Owls Under-18s have won four of their last five fixtures and swfc.co.uk will have the report and highlights from the trip to the Welsh capital on Saturday.

Match Reports

Crucial win for Wednesday Under-18s

31 March 2019

The Owls Under-18s picked up a crucial 1-0 win away at Cardiff on Saturday.

With title rivals Leeds also picking up maximum points, a result for the Owls against the high-flying Bluebirds could prove pivotal in the final league standings.

The Owls remain a point behind Leeds in the U18 North table but have two games in hand with four left to play.

One of the toughest fixtures on paper, the Owls headed to the Welsh capital to face a Cardiff side who were top of the U18 South league.

As expected, a close-fought encounter unfolded but it was eventually settled by midfielder Liam Shaw 18 minutes from time.

Goalkeeper Josh Render was largely untroubled throughout as a solid Wednesday side held firm and created the better chances, the first of which came midway through the first half.

After a flowing forward move involving Shaw and Lewis Farmer, Conor Grant was denied from inside the box by a stunning save from the Bluebirds goalkeeper George Ratcliffe.

The Cardiff shot-stopper was alert from the resulting corner to tip over the bar from Michael Ellery’s header.

Wednesday’s high pressing game was a cause for concern for the hosts and the door was almost unlocked just before the half hour mark.

Farmer, Shaw and Eyad Hammoud’s relentless work in pressing and closing down allowed Liam Waldock to pinch possession and play in Shaw, who was again kept out one-v-one by the impressive Ratcliffe.

It was more of the same in the second half and ten minutes after the restart, L’Varn Brandy saw his effort from the edge of the box well saved but the Owls managed to make the all-important breakthrough on 72 minutes.

Grant’s clever flick on sent Shaw through on goal and the midfielder was not to be denied on this occasion and calmly finished to bag a big three points for the Owls.

Owls: Render, Dawodu, Ellery, Waldock (Reaney 76), Thompson, Rice, Farmer, Shaw, Hammoud, Grant, Brandy (Hall 81)

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