Wanderers' FA Youth Cup adventure for the 2008/09 campaign came to an end as Liverpool booked their place in the semi-finals with a 4-2 victory.

Peter Farrell's side proved more than a match for their Merseyside counterparts with the margin of the defeat not reflecting the balance of the contest.

The Whites had taken an early lead through Daniel Ward, but three goals before half-time by Nathan Eccleston, David Amoo and Steven Irwin gave Liverpool a stranglehold on the game.

Chris Stokes pulled one back from the penalty spot just after the interval, but Irwin's second on 77 minutes sealed the victory for the hosts.

It was an open game from start to finish, with Wanderers battling right to the final whistle in front of over 3,000 spectators at Anfield.

The disappointment was evident to see on the faces on Bolton's youngsters at the full-time whistle, but they had no reason to feel aggrieved after giving a superb account of themselves.

The match started in lively fashion and Bolton were given an early wake-up call within the space of two minutes when nippy winger David Amoo breezed past Matthew Carlisle and delivered a floated cross to the far post. Wanderers right-back Joe Riley leapt to clear the danger, but Alexander Kacaniklic got to the ball first and planted a firm header only a yard wide of the far post.

Nathan Eccleston gave goalkeeper Tom Brocklehurst an early sighter from 25 yards before Whites number nine Daniel Ward capped off a lively first ten minutes with a crisp left-footed volley that flew just over the bar and into the Kop.

It was proving to be a very energetic opening by both sides, who in no way seemed overawed by the fact that they were playing at Liverpool's famous old ground. Lauri Dalla Valle's flicked header drifted narrowly wide and after causing an early scare for Bolton down the right flank, David Amoo curled on effort onto the roof of the net after weaving in from the opposite touchline.

However it was Wanderers who opened the scoring thanks to a thunderbolt from Danny Ward on 16 minutes. When Aaron Mooy's deep corner was half cleared, the talented young striker took his time on the edge of the penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable drive which arrowed past the outstretched arms of Liverpool keeper Dean Bouzanis, silencing the 3,000 supporters gathered in the Kop.

Liverpool were almost level within a minute when Brocklehurst was forced to make a decent parry to deny Eccleston from long-range, however it was Peter Farrell's men who were a fraction away from doubling the lead with only 20 minutes gone. Winger Michael O'Halloran left his marker for dead down the right and played in a delicious cross for Aaron Mooy, who side-footed inches over from roundabout the penalty spot.

After already coming close to scoring twice, Nathan Eccleston made it third time lucky when he equalised for the hosts halfway through the first period. After finding himself in space, the Liverpool number ten carried the ball into the box and slotted past the onrushing Brocklehurst with a neat finish.

Liverpool reversed the early deficit ten minutes before half-time when David Amoo stooped to bury a header into the bottom corner from close-range. The former Millwall trainee finished a free-flowing move from the hosts after Christopher Buchtmann had delivered a perfectly placed cross following a run forward from left-back.

Daniel Ward saw a free-kick just outside the box strike a wall before Liverpool grabbed their third of the evening on the stroke of half-time. Eccleston again was in the thick of the action as he played in a cross from the right for the unmarked Steven Irwin to nod past the helpless Brocklehurst.

Knowing that his side needed to get two goals to get themselves back in the contest, Peter Farrell made one change at the interval, replacing Grant Spencer with Stuart McDonald in the centre of midfield.
In similar fashion to the first half, Wanderers started brightly and they gave the Merseysiders a fright within two minutes of the restart when Matthew Carlisle blazed fractionally too high after being released by the ever impressive Aaron Mooy.

Liverpool skipper Joe Kennedy headed wide from a set-piece before he became the culprit inside his own penalty area moments later, giving Wanderers a route back into the tie when he tripped Michael O'Halloran. Chris Stokes, who was wearing the armband for the Trotters, stepped up to lead by example as he coolly slotted away the spot-kick to reduce arrears.

It was the perfect response by Bolton and they came within inches of making it 3-3 when O'Halloran again found space in behind the Reds' backline. His deft chip looked destined to trickle in the far corner, however Andre Wisdom had anticipated the danger and backtracked to clear off his own goal line.

Wanderers, buoyed by their second goal, undoubtedly dominated the first 20 minutes of the second half and would have been back level on 65 minutes if it hadn't been for a world-class save by Australian goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis. Again it was Daniel Ward causing all sorts of problems for Liverpool's centre-halves as this time he fought off his marker, spun and fired in what looked like a certain equaliser only to be denied by Bouzanis diving acrobatically to his left.

Bolton's inspirational leader Chris Stokes was forced to leave the field after picking up a nasty head injury in the latter stages, and as he sought a means of patching himself up, the hosts took full advantage of his temporary absence by effectively booking their place in the next round on 77 minutes.

Steven Irwin grabbed his second of the evening with a fine drive from the edge of the penalty area. The full-back broke forward, cut inside and struck a fine left-foot shot which beat Brocklehurst, who put in a valiant dive.

Nathan Eccleston carved out a further opportunity for Liverpool in the dying minutes before referee Sarginson brought an entertaining contest to an end following five minutes of stoppage time.

Liverpool: Bouzanis, Irwin, Buchtmann, Wisdom, Kennedy, Ince, Amoo, Pepper, Dalla Valle, Eccleston, Kacaniklic (Subs not used: Roberts, Chaimberlain, Robinson, Clair, Coady)

Bolton: Brocklehurst, Riley, Carlisle, Bennett, Stokes, Spencer (McDonald 46), McGeechan (Pawley 84), Blakeman, Ward, Mooy, O'Halloran (Subs not used: Lynch, Eckersley, Campbell)