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Bolton Wanderers recorded a second pre-season victory on the spin thanks to second half goals from George Thomason, Nathan Delfouneso (2) and Ronan Darcy.
Ian Evatt’s men were made to work hard against an Atherton Collieries who were set up to frustrate their visitors.
After a goalless first half, Thomason put the Whites in front after 72 minutes before Delfouneso doubled his side’s lead two minutes later.
Injury time strikes by Delfouneso and Darcy gave Wanderers a scoreline that accurately reflected their possession and dominance at the Skuna Stadium.
The ground was abuzz with excitement as many Wanderers fans got to see the players up close and personal for the first time in 18 months.
With the exception of loanee Xavier Amaechil, who played for the first 60 minutes, Wanderers fielded two separate XIs in each half, as they did at the weekend in the victory against Longridge Town.
Evatt’s troops enjoyed the vast majority of the ball in the opening 45 and toiled against a stubborn Colls side who were happy to sit back.
Dapo Afolayan looked sharp on the flank and was at the centre of most of Wanderers’ attacking intentions.
He was the closest to breaking the deadlock with several efforts but found home keeper Danny Taberner in good form.
With ten new players taking to the field in the second-half, it took a short while for the visitors to find their rhythm.
Lloyd Isgrove and Ronan Darcy looked particularly lively and were instrumental to Wanderers forays in the final third.
Kieran Lee, showing his customary industry and fine touches, forced a save out of Taberner who came off his line to thwart the midfielder’s shot on the turn.
Brandon Comley replaced the impressive Amaechi on the hour mark for Wanderers’ only switch of the contest.
Thomason broke the deadlock with just under 20 minutes remaining when he got on the end of Gethin Jones’ right-sided centre to fire past Taberner.
One became two shortly afterwards when Delfouneso slid in to convert Liam Gordon’s left sided cross.
Isgrove went close to extending Wanderers lead but couldn’t get past Taberner.
In the third minute of injury time, Darcy, who netted a late goal against Longridge on Saturday, produced a neat finish from just inside the box.
Then, with barely seconds remaining, Delfouneso bundled home from close range to make it four.
Team:
First Half
Dixon, Brockbank, Aimson, Baptiste, John, Williams, Sheehan, Tutte, Amaechi, Afolyan, Bakayoko
Second Half
Hutchinson, Jones, Almeida Santos, Johnston, Gordon, Thomason, Lee, Amaechi (Comley 60), Isgrove, Delfouneso, Darcy
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� wins from two for Ian Evatt’s men, as they defeated the Colls 4-0 at the Skuna Stadium yesterday.[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
