BOLTON defender James Sinclair was sent off as Manchester United came from behind to end Wanderers' hopes of reaching the final of the Lancashire Senior Cup.
Sinclair was dismissed after just 17 minutes following a trip on United striker Federico Macheda as he raced clear on goal.
The ten men responded almost immediately by going in front through captain Rob Sissons, who combined well with Temitope Obadeyi before steering the ball past Ron-Robert Zieler.
But Bolton could not hold onto their lead and ultimately found the numerical disadvantage too much of a handicap despite a brave bid to force a late equaliser.
United can now look forward to a final date against either Liverpool or Accrington Stanley after Chris Eagles paved the way to victory by cancelling out Sissons' goal after 26 minutes.
Eagles showed his pedigree in an impressive first-half performance capped by his close-range finish after Tom Brocklehurst had saved superbly from Danny Drinkwater.
Brocklehurst was then beaten again six minutes later when Macheda capitalised on hesitation between the goalkeeper and his defenders to side-foot home a David Gray cross.
Kevin Wolze twice went close for Bolton who could have gone further behind with more careful finishing from Sean Evans and Drinkwater either side of the break.
But having kept United at bay Bolton finished strongly and went close to taking the tie to penalties.
A link-up between Blerim Dzemaili and Wolze almost let in the latter and then in the final minute Obadeyi was up-ended just outside the penalty area but Aaron Mooy blasted the free-kick wide as United hung on.
Bolton could get the chance of revenge if they take a point from their last group game at Stockport in the Manchester Senior Cup on May 1 to set up a possible final against the Old Trafford club.
Bolton: Brocklehurst, Sinclair, Carlisle, Dzemaili (Ward 80(, Charlesworth (McDonald 28), Gbemie, Mooy, Sissons, Obadeyi, Wolze (O'Halloran 71), Burns. Substitutes: Sheridan, Lynch.
Manchester United: Zieler, Gray, Cleverley, Chester, Cathcart, Hewson, Drinkwater, Possebon, Macheda, Eagles (Galbraith 61), Evans (James 61). Substitutes: Evans, Eikrem, Amos.
