And so begins another new era at Hillsborough. After post-Chansiri, we now have post-Pedersen, and the football machine whirs on - a successor shouldn’t be far away. Wednesday were up against a Cambridge side that have started the season strongly, and the hosts were going to need to be much better than they’d shown in the final two games of the previous manager’s tenure.
Matt Hamshaw led from the bench, more than two decades after he left the club as a player, and rang the changes in search of a return to winning ways. Liam Cooper dropped out completely for some much-needed rest, and Ernie Weaver was handed a starting berth alongside Max Lowe in central defence. Callum Slattery returned after suspension, Harry was back in the mix, and Reece James started at left back.
Elsewhere, Jaden Heskey missed out, Mason Burstow led the line, and an injury to young Jack Phillips saw 17-year-old Wednesdayite, Olly Bramhall, formed part of the three matchday goalkeepers for the first time… A big night for the talented shot-stopper.
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There have been calls for Weaver to get his chance for a number of weeks now, and the youngster didn’t waste any time to make his mark. Minutes into the game he cleared one off the line – celebrating loudly afterwards – and over the course of the first half he never seemed to be too far away from the action as he threw himself into blocks and aerial duels.
To their credit, Cambridge had the better of the early stages, and probably should’ve led. Ben Knight saw an effort bobble wide of the mark, and Liam Bennett went close as well. Some brave goalkeeping from Ashley Maynard-Brewer did the trick between the sticks.
The tide did turn, though, and Wednesday grew into things as the game progressed. Slattery saw a thumped effort parried away, and James - who was having loads of joy down the left – had his strike saved by Jake Eastwood. Gray’s quick feet were causing plenty of trouble on the other side, but the U’s defended well for the most part and it was probably fair that the two sides were level at the break. 0-0.
There were no changes for the second stanza, and the Owls started brightly… It took them just five minutes to take the lead, and they did it in emphatic fashion.
Slattery won a foul and spotted Burstow’s perfect run, taking the free kick quickly with a lovely curling ball over the top and into the path of the striker. He still had work to do, but brilliantly shrugged off his marker before firing a thumping effort into the back of the net via the post. He won’t catch many better than that.
He could’ve had a second not long afterwards, too, as the ball dropped to him in the six-yard box somewhat fortuitously and he thought he’d made it 2-0… The Owls loanee couldn’t quite believe it as Eastwood somehow turned it over the bar.
Moments change games, they say, and that save was one of them. The visitors had responded well to going behind, with James going into the book after bringing one break to an abrupt end, but it wasn’t going to be their last attack.
Minutes later it happened again, and this time the Owls couldn’t handle it. Shayne Lavery drove at the home side before sliding it into Sullay Kaikai, and the substitute pulled off an excellent finish of his own to level things up.
Hamshaw stuck to his guns, and was almost rewarded as Bannan went incredibly close to regaining the lead, only to see his lovely curling effort bounce back off the post. Kieran Morrison replaced Gray not long afterwards.
Wednesday weren’t the only team pushing for a winner, however, and Cambridge might have got a goal themselves if not for a good save from Ashley Maynard-Brewer. Liam Palmer was introduced for the final stretch as Yan Valery limped off, and Ali Al-Hamadi came on for the Owls’ number 10 - with the hosts switching to a 4-4-2.
Both teams huffed and puffed, Maynard-Brewer pulled off a couple of excellent saves in a goalmouth scramble, and Cambridge did some excellent defending of their own at the other end. Five minutes were added on, and it felt like either team could find a winner.
Sil Swinkels came on to make his return from injury, replacing Weaver, and the stoppage seemed to put a pin in matters. The 30,701 in attendance wouldn’t see a victory, but they did play their part in making it seven 30k home crowds in a row - for the first time since 1953!
A draw felt fair in the end, and it was an enjoyable game to watch. Now we wait to see if it’ll be Hamshaw’s one and only game as interim manager, with Dave Challinor and others waiting in the wings to find out who’ll take over.
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