Report: Shrimps 0-3 Sheffield Wednesday
Three late second-half goals from Josh Windass, George Byers and Michael Smith handed Sheffield Wednesday all three points at the Mazuma Stadium.
It was the Shrimps who had the first chance of the game through striker Kieran Phillips, a deft touch by Cole Stockton set the on-loan Huddersfield Town man on his way, he opened his body up before pulling the trigger which forced a smart save out of David Stockade in the Owls’ goal.
On the 20th minute, the visitors came close to opening the scoring, a chipped ball forward by Barry Bannan found Windass inside the Shrimps’ penalty area, he turned and angled an effort towards the bottom-right corner of Connor Ripley’s goal, but the ‘keeper was there to make an excellent one-handed save.
Just after the half-an-hour, mark it was Wednesday who had the next chance, the ball dropped to Reece James on the edge of the box who forced another fantastic save from Ripley to keep the scores level.
A corner came and went for Darren Moore’s men, Bannan’s delivery was met at the near post and cleared by Stockton, but the ball fell nicely for Michael Ihiekwe who lashed an effort wide of the mark.
The Shrimps had a corner of their own eight minutes before the break, Jake Taylor’s cross was met on the head by Ryan Delaney who was inches away from seeing his header sneak in the bottom-left corner.
Just after the hour mark, it was Ripley again with another stunning save to deny James again, the midfielder broke free in the box and took his shot early, but Ripley was there to make a big one-on-one save at his near post.
The Shrimps’ resistance would be broken on the 71st minute, a corner from Bannan was met by Windass at the near post with his header looping into the back of the net in-front of the away end.
From there, Ripley continued his masterclass, denying Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Bannan respectively, however the Shrimps goal would be breached again on the 78th minute.
A near carbon copy of the first goal, a corner from Bannan was headed home by Byers at the near post.
The Owls had their third moments later, a through ball from Windass found Smith in the box, he took his chance first time which gave Ripley no chance in the home goal.
