Lower Engine Oil Pan Removal (2018 - 2.0 TDI Automatic 3v5)

Morning guys.

I had a small oil leak on the engine oil pan so thought it would be quite straight forward to take it off, reseal and tadaaaa.

Getting two of the middle bolts out near the gear box were a nightmare with one of them falling into the recess and currently no magnet to get it out but the real problem(!!) is trying to get the actual pan off as it's stuck fast when I thought it would come off quite easily. We are supposed to bang in wedges to ease the pan off but honestly, space is so tight and apart from removing the crankshaft pulley and the lower timing belt cover, I see no other room in which to perform the splitting (I don't have wedges either :/ )

The pan has 20 bolts plus three bolts that connect it to the gearbox which have all been removed. I've tried hitting it with a rubber hammer but it doesn't even look like budging.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get it off? I will try and soften the silicone that I can see with sealant removal and scrape away with a blade to see if that does anything but I can't see it having much effect.

(!!) Actually, my real fear is getting it back on with the two bolts that go up in the small space near the gearbox as they recessed and without a ball . Any tips for getting those in? I have some ideas but would appreciate other thoughts to see if they match.

TIA

Anthony