WANDERERS held firm in a real battle at Hillsborough to earn their first league win of 2015.

Early goals from Liam Feeney and Darren Pratley got them off to the perfect start before Chris Maguire’s penalty brought the home side back into it.

The second half was a tale of two superb goalkeeping performances – Andy Lonergan bringing off a world class save at the bitter end to earn all three points.

Much of the first half was played in torrential sleet, making playing conditions tricky underfoot.

But that can hardly excuse the Wednesday defending for the first 25 minutes, which virtually gifted Wanderers a 2-0 lead.

Barely two minutes had been played when Liam Feeney drove home the opening goal, capitalising on some great work from Josh Vela to dispossess Jacques Maghoma.

One quickly became two and this time it was the dithering of Claude Dielna that allowed Darren Pratley to flick the ball over his head and blast a second past Kieren Westwood.

Wednesday dragged themselves back into it with a penalty, given presumably for a foul by Matt Millson Adthe Nuhiu – but possibly also for a trip by Feeney on Chris Maguire.

Either way, it was Maguire who stepped up to score and give the home side some hope.

Had it not been for Keiren Westwood, Wanderers would have run away with the game in the second half.

After one fine stop one-on-one with Josh Vela, the sought-after Owls stopper then made a hat-trick of brilliant saves to deny Craig Davies, Pratley and then Mills.

Wednesday improved, though, and could well have drawn level when substitute Lewis Baker’s effort was deflected over the crossbar by Mills, lying on his back in the six yard box.

Sub Sam Hutchinson picked up two yellow cards inside 10 minutes to leave his side a man short at the end – but the Owls continued to push and thought they had levelled the game when Steve May nudged the ball over the line after Nuhiu’s shot had bounced down off the bar, only to be disappointed by the linesman’s flag.

Six minutes into injury time Andy Lonergan made the save of the game, pushing Dielma’s shot on to the post to preserve a well-earned win.