Wanderers held off a spirited Chorley fightback to ensure that their summer programme ended with a win in a suitably competitive encounter at Victory Park.

Though Chorley lie seven divisions below Bolton in the league pyramid and were ultimately well beaten by strikes from Javlon Campbell, Sam Sheridan and substitute Zoltan Harsanyi before a late rally of two goals in the final nine minutes, they were dogged opponents throughout, and provided a good test for a Trotters side blessed with a mixture of senior stars and promising youngsters.

The Wanderers fans that made the short trip up the M61 to contest the 'Peter Kay derby' were treated to the sight of a similar line-up to the one that had been on show in the friendly at Fleetwood the preceding Monday, with experienced defensive duo Dan Shittu and Nicky Hunt in the side once more.

Hungarian keeper Alex Bogdan replaced Ali Al Habsi, while Mustapha Riga was given a chance to unleash his repertoire of tricks to great effect down the left hand side of midfield with Mark Davies controlling matters in the middle. Centre half Chris Basham was the only other player on show to have taken part in the previous day's encounter with Hibernian.

After a slow but steady start, with home forward Danny Nolan looking the most lively threat on either side, Wanderers skipper Sam Sheridan was first to test either keeper, with a 20-yard shot safely held by Zac Hibbert on the quarter hour.

The Magpies' Michael Owens produced a similar strike from a dead ball position five minutes later, a more accurate strike than the one produced by colleague Tom Spearitt moments later.

Eventually, Bolton's patience paid off in the 25^th minute as Mustapha Riga got round the back of the defence and produced a well flighted cross which lit up Javlon Campbell's eyes with due reason - the ball landing invitingly just 12 yards from goal, and his volley to just inside the left hand post barely gave Hibbert time to react.

An almost identical move from the subsequent attack saw the same provider feed the same recipient, but this time Campbell met it with his head - the ball skewing just wide of the target - and when Riga himself went in search of glory with a long range drive, a deflection off Chris Smalley sent the ball the wrong side of the post but on a similarly close line.

The diminutive Nolan continued to show great vision as he struck up a promising partnership with prolific non-league scorer Terry Fearns, the pair sharing a succession of passes before the latter struck straight at Adam Bogdan.

That attack, however, was one of increasingly few home raids as the half progressed, with Bolton's superiority underlined by a second strike from the penalty spot on 33 minutes. Mark Davies was fouled by his marker, Mark Rogers, and skipper Sam Sheridan made his own mark on the game, placing the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

That proved to be the last notable act of the half as Chorley limited their aspirations to keeping the ball within a comfort zone, and Wanderers seemed more than content for them to be in control of the ball provided they didn't intend to do any damage with it.

A flurry of changes saw four new faces enter the mix for the away side at the break, and with it came a succession of chances at the very start of the half.

Zoltan Harsanyi stepped straight off the bench to whip a low cross just inches away from the goal, with fellow replacement Marcos Michael and Riga both unable to convert, while Harsanyi also came close with a header that just cleared the bar.

Sheridan couldn't quite find his range as he latched onto a poor backpass from opposing captain Tom Spearitt, while Riga chipped just over from distance as Wanderers dominated before a home resurgence.

Fearns couldn't quite take advantage of their new confidence, however, as he turned his side's best two chances of the half just over the top of the bar shortly after the hour mark. A neat passing move was turned into a chance by replacement Josh Kenworthy, who laid the ball into the striker's pass on the edge of the box before his near miss, and he then somehow managed to pick himself up after coming off second best in a duel for Hibbert's upfield punt, regaining his composure after landing from a shoulder charge but only managing to chip the ball over the bar.

Riga maintained his position as Bolton's most persistent playmaker as a succession of free-kicks were worked into the box, only for dogged Magpies defending to avert the danger, and as the final quarter hour approached, the home side continued to work hard to try and fashion a goal for their efforts.

They were left stunned, however, with a Bolton counter 11 minutes from time that sparked a flurry of goals, Riga leaving the full-back chasing shadows as he waltzed to the by-line, and a shell-shocked defence could only stand and watch as Harsanyi headed home unmarked at the far post for the third and deciding strike.

Two minutes later, Chorley got the goal their tenacity deserved, albeit through an element of fortune. Mark Rogers tried his luck with a low shot from the edge of the box, and it took a deflection off Basham to wrong foot Bogdan as the ball trickled in.

An amazing comeback almost looked likely as Kenworthy again assisted Fearns with a low right-footed cross along the edge of the box, and the home side's No. 9 smashed the ball into the top left hand corner with four minutes remaining.

Wanderers, however, closed ranks with little time on the clock, and held on for the victory their overall dominance merited.

Chorley: Zac Hibbert (sub Jamie Scott 82), Chris Smalley (sub Josh Kenworthy 46), Mark Rogers, Tom Spearitt (capt), Wayne Maden, James Mullineux (sub Lee Shillito 88), Mike Fletcher (sub Ryan Kenyon 54), Martin Clark (sub Luke Charnley 63), Terry Fearns, Danny Nolan (sub Christian Sawicki 73), Michael Owens (sub Karl Brown 59). Sub not used: Jason Dodwell.

Bolton: Adam Bogdan, Nicky Hunt, Adam Blakeman (sub Chris Stokes 46), Sam Sheridan (capt, sub Joe Riley 68), Chris Basham, Dan Shittu, Javlon Campbell (sub Zoltan Harsanyi 46), Mark Davies, Danny Ward (sub Marcos Michael 46), Michael O'Halloran (sub Stuart McDonald 46), Mustapha Riga (sub Rhys Bennett 83). Sub not used: Rob Lainton.

Goals: Chorley; Rogers 81, Fearns 86. Bolton; Campbell 25, Sheridan pen 33, Harsanyi 79

Referee: Dean Mohareb

Attendance: 452

By Adrian Ward