Manchester Senior Cup: Bolton 2 Stockport 1
BOLTON reserve team boss Alan Cork praised his side's endeavours as they continued their winning run in the Manchester Senior Cup thanks to two goals from Zoltan Harsanyi.
The former Slovakian under-21 international finished well either side of the break to kill off a spirited Stockport side and keep Bolton in with a chance of a top-two finish and a place in the final.
"That was nice for Zoltan and we are going along all right," said Cork.
"We changed the team around a bit because some of the lads have played three games in six days and we showed a good work ethic.
"We lack a bit of quality, which we know, but they work hard and as a team they have a go.
"After the start we had at Blackburn, which was really poor, they realised they had to pull their socks and they have worked hard to win games."
After that 5-1 drubbing at Blackburn in the opening game, Bolton have picked up a couple of league wins and twice won on penalties in the cup.
They avoided that scenario this time with Harsanyi opening the scoring after 14 minutes with a crisp volley after Temitope Obadeyi had headed a Nathan Woolfe header against the bar. Woolfe twice went close a couple of times himself but Stockport provided a growing threat and the impressive Matty Mainwairing dragged a shot wide following a mazy run.
The visitors deservedly levelled two minutes into the second half when the experienced Matty McNeil volleyed in from 18 yards. But Bolton responded impressively and went back in front just three minutes later with their best move of the game.
Chris Basham, who had another assured game, launched a fine pass wide to James Sinclair who raced to the by-line and pulled the ball back for Harsanyi to side-foot the winner.
Obadeyi then wasted a chance to make it three and Stockport substitute Scott Barlow should have levelled with his first touch but he headed over and Bolton were spared a third successive shoot-out.
Bolton: Bogdan, Sinclair, Gbemie, Basham, Carlisle; Woolfe, Burns, Sissons (Mooy 27), Sheridan, Harsanyi; Obadeyi. Substitutes: Brocklehurst, Stokes, Campbell, Ward.
Stockport: Rigby; Vincent, Thompson, Havern (Pilkington 61), Rose; Edwards (Halls 83), McNeil, Mainwairing, Johnson; Tansey, Thompson (Barlow 73). Substitutes: Astbury, Wilkie.
The former Slovakian under-21 international finished well either side of the break to kill off a spirited Stockport side and keep Bolton in with a chance of a top-two finish and a place in the final.
"That was nice for Zoltan and we are going along all right," said Cork.
"We changed the team around a bit because some of the lads have played three games in six days and we showed a good work ethic.
"We lack a bit of quality, which we know, but they work hard and as a team they have a go.
"After the start we had at Blackburn, which was really poor, they realised they had to pull their socks and they have worked hard to win games."
After that 5-1 drubbing at Blackburn in the opening game, Bolton have picked up a couple of league wins and twice won on penalties in the cup.
They avoided that scenario this time with Harsanyi opening the scoring after 14 minutes with a crisp volley after Temitope Obadeyi had headed a Nathan Woolfe header against the bar. Woolfe twice went close a couple of times himself but Stockport provided a growing threat and the impressive Matty Mainwairing dragged a shot wide following a mazy run.
The visitors deservedly levelled two minutes into the second half when the experienced Matty McNeil volleyed in from 18 yards. But Bolton responded impressively and went back in front just three minutes later with their best move of the game.
Chris Basham, who had another assured game, launched a fine pass wide to James Sinclair who raced to the by-line and pulled the ball back for Harsanyi to side-foot the winner.
Obadeyi then wasted a chance to make it three and Stockport substitute Scott Barlow should have levelled with his first touch but he headed over and Bolton were spared a third successive shoot-out.
Bolton: Bogdan, Sinclair, Gbemie, Basham, Carlisle; Woolfe, Burns, Sissons (Mooy 27), Sheridan, Harsanyi; Obadeyi. Substitutes: Brocklehurst, Stokes, Campbell, Ward.
Stockport: Rigby; Vincent, Thompson, Havern (Pilkington 61), Rose; Edwards (Halls 83), McNeil, Mainwairing, Johnson; Tansey, Thompson (Barlow 73). Substitutes: Astbury, Wilkie.
