The Owls Under-18s returned to winning ways on Saturday morning with an emphatic 6-0 win on the road over Barnsley.

Six first half goals saw Andy Holdsworth’s youngsters climb back to the top of the Under-18 Professional Development League in strong fashion.

Liam Waldock set the ball rolling on 13 minutes with a crisp finish into the bottom corner after intercepting a clearance upfield and seven minutes later, the lead was doubled.

Jordan O’Brien proved a thorn in the side of the Reds and the forward was on hand to pounce on a defensive error to tee-up Conor Grant for the second, who finished superbly from the edge of the box.

Midway through the opening period, Michael Ellery glanced home the third from Grant’s free kick and the points were made safe ten minutes later when the Owls added a fourth.

The hosts struggled to deal with Wednesday’s attacking prowess and following a neat combination involving Charles Hagan, O’Brien and Eyad Hammoud, the ball ran in the box for Grant, who was brought down and the penalty awarded.

O’Brien needed two bites at the cherry but converted on the rebound to put Wednesday out of sight just past the half hour mark.

Wednesday were not finished there and continued their relentless assault on the Reds’ goal by adding a fifth two minutes later.

Grant’s set play delivery was cleared only as far as Hammoud on the edge of the box, who shifted the ball on to his left and found the bottom corner to make it 5-0.

A deflated Barnsley side saw their situation worsen just a minute later when Hammoud fired impressively into the bottom corner after more good pressing work from O’Brien in the final third.

A comprehensive 6-0 win for the Owls, who go back to the summit and face a top of the table clash next week at home to Burnley.

Owls: Render, Dawodu, Ellery, Waldock, Thompson, Rice (Oliver 65), Hagan, Farmer (Kenyon 74), Hammoud, Grant, O’Brien (Brandy 85)