The Owls Under-21s were beaten 5-0 by Charlton at Bracken Moor to give a scoreline that hardly reflected a game of two halves.

Wednesday created enough opportunities to be clear of the visitors at the interval but their profligacy in front of goal was ruthlessly punished by the Addicks, who were clinical after the break.

Goals from Matt Dench, Jeremy Santos, Euan Williams and a Daniel Kanu brace sealed three PDL2 points for the Londoners.

Wednesday were fast out of the traps and Ryan Galvin jinked to the edge of the area from his own half before firing a right-footed effort into the hands of Ahmed Kone.

Moments later the Owls won an indirect free kick in dangerous territory after Kone collected a back-pass, Jay Glover laid off Bobby Dunn but the midfielder’s goal-bound shot was glanced off the line.

Despite the early Owls pressure, it was Charlton who should have taken the lead. A ball from the right fell perfectly to Tolu Ladapo two yards from goal, but the forward’s mishit inched wide of Pierce Charles’ far post.

Charlton had another opportunity to go in front when Williams took aim from 12 yards but Adam Adetoro flung himself in the way to execute a superb block.

A stunning passing move created the Owls’ next chance, Will Trueman was heavily involved before the ball went wide to Galvin who crossed for Leojo Davidson, but Kone held onto the forward’s drive.

Davidson had another opportunity for Wednesday with five minutes of the first half to go, the former Manchester City man struck on the spin but the ball flew over Kone’s crossbar.

In a spell of dominance, the Owls still had two more chances to open the scoring before the whistle.

First, Davidson ran through on goal before firing the wrong side of the near post, then Glover’s strike from 20 yards was parried away by Kone.

And Wednesday were made to rue their missed opportunities just five minutes into the second half when the Addicks struck.

Dench found space in the box and blasted past Charles to give the Londoners the advantage.

Wednesday came within a whisker of bouncing back in stunning style via Dunn, his left-footed free kick from distance looked destined for the net but instead struck the inside of Kone’s post and bounced to safety.

The game may have looked very different had that chance been converted, as Charlton dominated play from then on.

The visitors won a free kick of their own on 67 minutes, Santos stepped up and curled a stunning effort into the top corner, leaving Charles with no chance.

The Addicks made it 3-0 with 10 minutes to go, substitute Williams tapping home from close range after a neat feed from the right by Mack Reilly.

Charlton’s confidence was sky high and they added two identical goals in the final minutes of the game.

Kanu found space on the left of the box and smashed into the roof of the net, before promptly repeating the feat just two minutes later to leave Wednesday with an afternoon to forget.

Wednesday: Charles, Fusire, Agbontohoma, Ashman (Al-Jahadhmy 66), Adetoro, Galvin, Dunn, Glover, Cook (Sesay 66), Trueman, Davidson (Rhule 66)