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Julian Darby was pleased to see his young Wanderers squad book their place in the FA Youth Cup second round after a 3-0 win against Wythenshawe Amateurs at the UniBol.
Yestin Shakespear and Leo Graham were both on target during the first half, with Wesley Frimpong adding a third after the break.
Darby believes his side are capable of more than they showed on the day but was encouraged to see a number of first and second-year scholars involved in the squad.
“The first goal was always going to be vital and Yestin did well,” he said. “Then at 2-0, you go into half time breathing a bit more easily.
“Then Wes Frimpong scores a great goal to seal the tie. It was nice that in the starting 11, we had six first-year (scholars) who are three or four months out of school.
“We had five second-years. Then on the bench I think there was another seven under-16s, one of those (Jamie Grayson) got on for the last 10 minutes or so at centre-back.”
Wanderers started brightly and could have gone ahead when Graham was denied by a smart stop from close range.
The youngster then managed to get his head to an inviting cross from the right but couldn’t get enough power on it to beat the goalkeeper.
The Whites went in front when Shakespear headed home at the far post after some good work by Graham on the right flank. The youngster did well to get himself in the right position to score at the far post.
Sonny Sharples then had a chance to double the lead after a great run to get past his man, but the midfielder was denied by a decent stop from a tight angle.
Harrison Fleury also had a decent strike from distance saved, before Sharples dragged an effort wide of the post.
The Whites continued to ask questions of the Wythenshawe backline, with a defender making an important block to keep out Shakespear’s effort after a clever turn inside the box.
But the second goal eventually came on the stroke of half time when Graham provided a clinical finish that went in off the bar after another well-worked attack.
Early in the second half, a Wythenshawe midfielder sent an effort wide from outside the box after a long throw-in caused the Bolton defence a few problems.
Sean Hogan was then denied by another smart stop after managing to get on the end of a dangerous corner.
Adam Beardsworth also went close with a glancing header after getting on the end of Inwood’s pinpoint cross after a short corner routine.
Frimpong added a third 15 minutes from time, latching onto Danny Jones’ threaded pass and finding the bottom corner with a thumping strike.
Sam Inwood had the goalkeeper beaten with a well-struck free kick during the final stages but he was denied by the crossbar.
Darby’s side will now host Hartlepool United or Accrington Stanley in the second round.
Dallimore, Frimpong, Halford (Grayson 85), Beardsworth, Hogan, Inwood, Burgess, Sharples, Fleury (Westwood 79), Graham, Shakespear (Jones 68)
Unused: Barlow, Lawrence, Lewis, Mancisidor
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