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MJ Williams scored his first-ever goal for Wanderers to cap another remarkable late comeback at the University of Bolton Stadium.
The midfielder had not scored in his previous 61 appearances for Bolton but popped up in the 90th minute to dent Sheffield Wednesday’s play-off pursuit.
Jordan Storey’s scruffy effort midway through the second half looked like it had put Darren Moore’s side en route to a second 1-0 victory against Bolton this season.
But Wanderers, who have now scored a league-high 23 goals in the last 15 minutes this season, showed once again that they do not surrender.
Wanderers gave as good as they got in the first half but took some time to close ex-loanee Barry Bannan out of the game. The Scot fired three shots at goal from near identical positions on the edge of the box inside the opening 20 minutes, one of which was turned aside by James Trafford.
Evatt had switched to a 4-2-3-1 shape to give his side a little more protection against his former Blackpool team-mate and though MJ Williams and Aaron Morley did eventually get on top, it was not before Nathaniel Mendez-Laing skewed a dreadful shot wide with the goal begging 20 minutes in.
As the icy rain fell, Bolton started to find some rhythm. Dion Charles seized on a loose pass from Jordan Storey and had a shot blocked in front of goal by Harlee Dean, Declan John skidding the follow-up just wide.
Williams also had a chance to set Charles in on goal after a poor clearance from Bailey Peacock-Farrell but could not get the right direction on his pass.
Kieran Sadlier, playing on the left side of attack, saw another decent effort blocked close in, but the visitors always looked dangerous on the break and Aimson was called upon to make two last-ditch clearances from Jack Hunt and Lee Gregory to keep the Owls at bay.
Trafford also made a full-length save to deny Mendez-Laing after he climbed above his marker to head Bannan’s free kick towards goal.
Wanderers were never out of the game, though, and could have gone ahead when Aaron Morley swung in an inviting free kick for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, whose flicked header dropped inches wide of the post.
Evatt had talked about the importance of scoring the first goal prior to kick off and within a couple of minutes of the restart the Whites went close again. Sadlier dug out a deep cross from the left which beat Peacock-Farrell but Charles could only turn his shot into the side netting at the far post.
Charles did get the ball in the net, only for his celebrations to be cut short by the linesman’s flag. The decision looked a marginal one – and was by no means the first to go against Bolton on the day.
And within moments, Wednesday had taken the lead.
Bannan’s corner was headed goalward by Sam Hutchinson but as the ball bounced off the post, Storey was first to react, stabbing the ball over the line from close range.
The Owls pressed for a second – Johnson had a shot charged down at point blank range by George Johnston and Bannan swept wastefully wide in front of the travelling fans with the goal gaping.
Evatt had already made his three replacements, with Declan John heading straight down the tunnel for treatment after he was swapped for Liam Gordon. Amadou Bakayoko and Xavier Amaechi struggled to make a dent Sub Callum Paterson should have made the game completely safe with a free header six minutes from the end, steered way wide.
By that stage, Bolton looked short on ideas. Wednesday were coasting to a result which would have put a four-point gap between them and seventh spot.
But, as so often has been the case this season, Wanderers came up with the goods in the dying stages of the game.
Elias Kachunga won a corner, played in by Morley and half-cleared to Williams, who gleefully blasted in the equaliser.
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