Fleetwood Town showed exactly why they're considered the bookies' favourites for the Blue Square North title by claiming a highly credible victory over a predominantly youthful Wanderers XI containing a scattering of household names.

Strikes from Adam Warlow and Lee Dodgson either side of the break gave the new look 'Cod Army' victory, but the scoreline didn't reflect the determination of the Wanderers side who could easily have taken a greater share of the spoils had luck been with them in front of goal.

The trip was certainly a worthwhile exercise in terms of improving the younger stars' experience of competing against senior players, and playing with the top stars too.

As well as the chance to witness the next generation in action, there were some big names on show for those making the trip up the Fylde coast, with Nicky Hunt and Danny Shittu both starting the game having been a part of the action in Friday's draw with FC Eindhoven, while firm favourite Ali Al Habsi started between the sticks, receiving a rapturous welcome from the hardy band of Wanderers fans camped in the Percy Ronson Stand.

The travelling fans could have been forgiven they were encountering the might of Arsenal as their opponents stepped out onto the Highbury Stadium turf wearing a red and white strip that wouldn't have looked out of place at the former stadium in north London, and some early attractive football showed that they had the playing style to match.

Indeed, winger Jamie Mullan had already shown he was capable of a trick or two by the time he waltzed into the Wanderers box just short of five minutes in, and he rolled possession delicately into the path of centre forward Adam Warlow, who found the bottom corner from 12 yards, albeit with his strike appearing to take a deflection off the advancing Shittu. Mullan was undoubtedly Fleetwood's most livewire threat throughout, with the former England and Manchester United youth star a stand out performer.

Danny Ward led the visitors' counter as he chipped a shot just wide of target from the left hand edge of the box, while skipper Sam Sheridan directed play through numerous attacking phases, seeing one thumping shot charged down on the edge of the 'D'.

It seemed almost a certainty that Michael O'Halloran would net an equaliser on 20 minutes, but an outstanding and brave tackle from Shaun Beeley within the six yard box kept his side ahead. The ball had fallen to O'Halloran in the aftermath of a previous chance, with Javlon Campbell having worked his way down the right and fed Ward, only for the striker to see his shot parried off the line by Town's Bolton-born keeper Aaron Grundy.

An even first half saw chances at a relative premium, but Al Habsi twice held firm in testing circumstances; firstly when Jamie McGuire tried a rugby league-style 'up and under' chance from some 30 yards, and then a highly impressive stop followed as he plucked Lee Dodgson's rasping shot out of the sky as it looked destined to clatter into the top left hand corner.

Bolton used the interval as a chance to re-shape and claw back the deficit, with Liverpudlian left-back Adam Blakeman and Cypriot playmaker Marcos Michael brought into the mix, though the senior stars - including former Blackpool man Shittu - were left on.

Young Blakeman was handed the task of shackling the ever-frenetic Mullan, who, with fellow early tormentor Warlow, looked lively from the off once again, with chances flashing past either side of Al Habsi's goal, but the half's first genuinely eye-catching moment arrived on the hour, with Ward holding off his marker Steve McNulty with his back to goal before swivelling to release a 20-yard shot that Grundy did well to punch round the post.

Home substitute Chris Williams immediately lit up the encounter despite the fading skies courtesy of his shiny pink boots, and to prove they weren't just for show, he had Al Habsi at full stretch to turn his 22-yard shot over the bar just moments after his 66th minute introduction.

A chance-laden period of the game saw Bolton break immediately, with Michael racing through the last line of defence before squaring to Sheridan, unmarked in the centre of the box, but after his heroic tackle on O'Halloran in the first half, this time Beeley thrust out a leg to deny what looked like another certain leveller was in the offing.

The interception proved crucial as play swept back from where it had just came, with official Barry Cropp adjudging Hunt to have clipped Dodgson just inside the box. Hunt didn't dispute the trip, but was adamant that his connection had taken place outside the area. His frustration was understandably compounded as Dodgson picked himself up and found the bottom right hand corner with 17 minutes to play.

Grundy followed Beeley's lead and blocked with his legs as Michael tried to pull his side back into contention, and the same threat couldn't quite extend his reach to poke home O'Halloran's inviting cross after the winger had left sub Adam Sumner trailing in his wake.

There was still time for further excitement for much of the vocal 808-strong crowd - the majority of which were congregated behind Al Habsi's goal - but the Trotters keeper ensured they witnessed no further goals with a stunning fingertip save from Jamie McGuire and a stroke of fortune as Steve Connors headed the resulting corner wide from point blank range.

Fleetwood: Aaron Grundy, Shaun Beeley, Kevin Leadbetter (sub Adam Sumner 76), John Hills, Steve McNulty (capt.), Jamie McGuire, Jamie Mullan (sub Scott Thompson 85), Steve Connors, Adam Warlow (sub Chris Williams 66), Tom Cahill, Lee Dodgson. (Subs not used: Matty Kay, Ollie Kelly, Danny Hurst.)

Bolton: Ali Al Habsi, Nicky Hunt, Chris Stokes (sub Adam Blakeman 46), Sam Sheridan (capt.), Rhys Bennett (sub Marcos Michael 46), Danny Shittu, Javlon Campbell, Danny Ward, Michael O'Halloran, Stuart McDonald (sub Joe Riley 60), Zoltan Harsanyi. (Sub not used: Rob Lainton.)

Referee: Barry Cropp

Attendance: 808.

By Adrian Ward