Wednesday kicked off 2023 in style with a conclusive 5-0 win over Cambridge at Hillsborough.
Josh Windass was the man of the moment, scoring a hat-trick as the Owls demonstrated a ruthless streak far too hot for the U’s to handle.
Michael Smith also bagged a brace as Darren Moore’s men broke into the top two for the first time this campaign.
On paper it seemed a torrid assignment was in store for the visitors and so it proved.
Wednesday had the bit between their teeth, dominating possession, and deservedly went ahead seven minutes in.
George Byers threaded a perfect through-ball to Windass, who shrugged off his marker before placing coolly past Will Mannion.
The one-way traffic continued as Cambridge came under attack from all angles and particularly down the flanks, where Marvin Johnson and Mallik Wilks caused all kind of problems.
With the U’s on the backfoot, Smith’s clever header sent Callum Paterson scampering clear until he was upended by Liam Bennett and the referee pointed to the spot.
Smith fired emphatically home from 12 yards to put the Owls squarely in the box seat.
There was little respite for Cambridge - Smith glanced a Liam Palmer cross inches wide and Byers and Windass combined again in cutting fashion but this time Mannion came out on top.
Johnson stroked the side netting from close range after a mazy run, Paterson volleyed over the top, before the U’s enjoyed something of a flourish with half time approaching – and were unlucky not to halve the deficit.
First Lewis Simper rattled the crossbar with a fierce hit from the edge of the area, then Greg Taylor’s looping header was cleared off the line by Smith.
But the contest reverted to type and the U’s were 3-0 down six minutes into the second period.
Wilks’ cross was only half cleared and landed nicely to Palmer, who drilled in a low feed that Smith stabbed past Mannion at his near post.
There was more to follow for the beleaguered Cambridge defence as Wednesday made it 4-0 on 70 minutes.
Wilks played a delightful feed to Windass loitering on the angle of the area and the striker’s low drive gave Mannion no chance.
Paterson got something on a Johnson cross moments after the restart but not quite enough and in truth, the U’s were waiting for the final whistle.
But still there was time for more punishment as Windass completed his treble with 10 minutes left, scoring his third goal in similar style to his second goal to conclude the most productive of S6 afternoons.
Wednesday: Dawson, Wilks, Palmer, McGuinness, James, Byers (Hunt 65), Vaulks, Johnson (Famewo 75), Windass (Shipston 84), Paterson (Adeniran 76), Smith (Dele-Bashiru 65)