City's Pontin's League campaign began with a 2-1 defeat as the Owls rallied from behind to claim the points at Hillsbrough.

Academy graduate Matt Hazley struck on the half-hour to put Noel Blake's men ahead at the break, but second-half goals from defenders Liam McMenamin and Sam Liversidge decided a tight contest which saw City hit the Wednesday woodwork FOUR times.

Trialist Aliou Cisse was given a chance to impress in midfield alongside returning long-term injury victims John Eustace and Kevin Harper amongst an otherwise youthful line-up - and their quality showed during the opening period.

Young striker Martin Paterson was a lively presence in attack, flicking a Hazley cross on to the post before Eustace saw a superb free-kick follow an identical path.

However, they were not to be denied a minute later as Wednesday 'keeper Chris Adamson failed to hold Paterson's cross and Hazley was on hand to side-foot home from close-range.

But a midfield understandably lacking fitness waned, and so did City's challenge as the Owls hit back after the break.

Rob Duggan was immediately called into action to deny David McClements, Wade Small and Luke Boden before finally being beaten on the hour by McMenamin's towering header from a McClements corner.

The Potters fought back though and remarkably struck the woodwork for a third and fourth time in quick succession.

First, Anthony Pulis saw a free-kick deflect wickedly off the post and then Eustace's goal-bound header was flicked on to his own crossbar by a desperate Andy Broadbent.

It just wasn't to be City's day and a quick breakaway from the home side in the 83 minute confirmed their unfortunate fate as Liversidge scrambled in another McClements corner.

Sheff Wed: Adamson, Tawton (Bannister, 45), McMenamin, Liversidge, Kay, McClements, McAllister, Broadbent, Kee, Boden, Small (Jordan, 77). Subs (Not Used): O'Donnell, Stothard, Bowman.

City: Duggan, Garrett, Robinson, Dickinson, Hazley, Pulis, Cisse (Curley, 77), Eustace, Watson (Mullan, 68), Harper (Grocott, 57), Paterson. Subs (Not Used): St. Louis-Hamilton, McDonald.