Report: Stafford Rangers 1-2 Bolton Wanderers XI

Bolton Wanderers XI maintained their unbeaten start to pre-season as they clinched back-to-back victories after recording a narrow win away at Stafford Rangers on Tuesday night.
 
Led by Under-18s coach David Lee, a youthful Whites side opened the scoring early on as Alex Samizadeh poked home after Joseph Shirdel's deflected strike landed kindly for him.

Goalscorer then turned provided as he combined well with Gerald Kilota, who was in turn brought down in the area as Bolton were awarded a penalty-kick.

George Newell, making his first appearance of pre-season, stepped up to take the spot-kick, and made no mistake as he confidently slotted home to double the Trotters' lead shortly before the break.

However, Wanderers' lead was halved soon after as Kris Taylor thundered home from the edge of the area following a Stafford corner on the stroke of half time.

Both sides had chances after the interval with Samizadeh again going close for the Whites only to be denied by the Stafford goalkeeper.

At the other end, substitute goalkeeper Jake Turner had to be alert to maintain Bolton's lead, with a Trotters defend alert to clear off the line the one time the shot-stopper was beaten.

But with no changes to the scoreline after the interval, Wanderers held on to clinch the win.

Speaking following the game, Lee praised the team for recording a positive result from what was a challenging encounter against a physical side.

"We had a combined team of Under-18s and trialists so it was a tough physical game for us," he told bwfc.co.uk after the final whistle.

"Stafford are a physically mature side so they provided a real test for our young players, before offering another tough test in the second half after changing most of their side. 

"We still worked very hard and were fully deserving of the win. It was a good work out for us and it was pleasing to pick up another positive result."

Bolton XI: Jaaskelainen, Spooner, Ribeiro, Honeyball, Brockbank, Ca, Shirdel, Earing, Newell, Samizadeh, Kilota.


Subs: Grivosti, Turner, Navarro, Grant, Politic, Marsh.

Source

Better result than I was expecting with the triallists getting a full game in a team of strangers, but I wish there was some indication how they went on.
And George Newell makes a comeback! I was wondering where he was.

Newell is a good lad. I wish we had kept Jamie Thomas - but no point going on about that, I suppose.