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Bolton Wanderers Under-23s progressed to the Professional Development League Play-Off Final after beating Charlton Athletic 3-1 at Macron Stadium on Tue evening.
First half goals from Jeff King and Dennis Politic saw the young Whites take control of the tie, and although Charlton pulled one back after the break, captain Liam Edwards' late header sealed the win to set up a final clash away at Nottingham Forest.
Starting brightly in front of a vocal crowd at Macron Stadium, David Lee’s side took the lead midway through the half as Ryan White combined well with King to find himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
White was unfortunate to see his effort rebound back off the post after beating Ashley Maynard-Brewer, but King reachted to quickest to convert the rebound to put the Young Whites ahead.
Things only got better for Wanderers after Dennis Politic doubled his side's lead shortly before the interval.
Dispossessing Dan Bowry, the Romania youth international dribbled into the eighteen-yard box before unleashing a thunderous strike across goal into the top corner from a tight angle.
With Whites goalkeeper James Aspinall relatively untested in the first half. Charlton fought back strongly after the interval as they began to create half-chances before giving themselves a lifeline midway through the half.
A low driven cross into the area saw second half substitute Reeco Hackett-Fairchild poke it past Aspinall to give the Addicks a chance in the tie.
However, any chance of a Charlton comeback was ended by Edwards as he added a third late on.
Finding himself in space at the far post, the young Whites captain latched onto a superb Cole Lonsdale cross with a fine diving header from inside the six-yard box to seal the win.
Wanderers will now play Nottingham Forest in the Professional Development League Play-Off Final.
Wanderers starting XI: Aspinall, Morris, Lonsdale, Edwards (c), Mitchell, Pritchard, Politic, Earing, Hall, King, White
Subs: Muscatt, Jones, Navarro, Jones-Griffiths, McKenna
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