Five Past Bolton Wanderers

BWFC Reserves 1 - 5 MCFC Reserves

City moved back into second place in the league with a resounding five goal win over Bolton Wanderers after falling away with two league defeats in the previous two games. Goals from David Ball, James Poole, the rehabilitating Valeri Bojinov and a brace from substitute Ian Daly; one from the spot. Bolton's goal from their captain Rob Sissons was merely a consolation in the eighty fifth minute.

City kicked off and before any of the spectators had time to draw breath they were one nil up when Karl Moore returning to his more usual role of playing wide left was able to burst past the fullback from a good through ball and look up and pull the ball back for David who steadied himself and fired into the bottom corner with seventeen seconds on the clock after he has gone a few games where it has not quite fallen for him.

City controlled the game in the first half despite having the disadvantage of playing up the slope and good news for the City fans was that Bojinov looked shard as he had a couple of good shots that was well saved by Adam Bogdan in the Bolton goal and the other shot that was deflected just wide. Bolton were certainly lucky to see the score as just one nil as the first half ended.

Bolton certainly came out in the second half with far more purpose to their play but it was City that put the ball into the back of the net this time possibly slightly against the run of play; but as it was a quick move it probably caught Bolton unawares. Bojinov saw Angelos Tsiaklis in space who played the ball out to Poole out on the right of the penalty area and he advanced through and fired a crisp shot past Bogdan and into the goal.

Bolton again tried to get back into the game but with Andrew Mitchell coming on for Tsiaklis the midfield had a little more bite and Adam Clayton had more room to run the show and so in the seventy fifth minute City had the game won when Moore causing problems on the left released the ball for Clayton to run on and cross to the far post where Bojinov fired into the back of the net.

Valeri was immediately substituted as it appeared as though he got a bit of cramp; due to all his running and movement in and around the box. Ian Daly came on to replace him and he was up for the game straight away as he was right their at the thick of it within two minutes as he played a one two with Poole in and around the area and he tried to dance around the defender but was caught by a clumsy tackle and the referee awarded the penalty. Daly argued with Ball to take the penalty; but won the mind game with Ball to take it as he smashed the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

Bolton got themselves in deeper problems when the Isreali Tamir Cohen decided that he no longer wanted to play a part in the game as the referee allowed advantaged after he had pulled Clayton back but returned when the move was over to book Cohen for the second time after only been showed the other yellow a few minutes earlier and show him the red card.

Despite going down to ten men Bolton pulled a goal back when a free kick out on the left was crossed to the un-marked Sissons on the edge of the area and he found the top corner of the goal with a very fine strike that Gunnar Nielsen in the City goal had no chance with.

With that Bolton goal City would have stayed third in the table on goals scored but City scored that important fifth goal when Moore again was all over the defence saw his shot cannon back of Bogdan and Daly run in and coolly chip the ball over Bogdan and the defender and into the goal.

City still have the slimmest of chances of finishing top of the league but they are relying on Sunderland dropping points and City beating Sunderland and the Blues winning their remaining five games; a tough ask if the squad is messed about with too much.


Bolton: Bogdan(GK), Riley, Stokes, Sheridan, Bennett, Gbemie, Cohen(Sent Off 81), Sissons(Capt.), Obadeyi, Ward, O'Halloran.

Subs: Blakeman(GK), Eckersley, Mooy, Campbell.


City: Nielsen(GK), Obeng(Smith 57), Morris, Mee(Capt.), McDonald, Clayton, Poole, Tsiaklis(Mitchell 62), Ball, Bojinov(Daly 75), Moore.

Subs: T Johansen(GK), Cieslewicz.

Att: Approx 150.