Penalties in each half by Fabio and Federico Macheda were the only difference at Moss Lane as Wanderers Reserves slipped to a 2-0 defeat in the Barclays Premier Reserve league.

But the evening saw a welcome return to action from Tamir Cohen and Nicky Hunt, who both completed an hour on their path back to full fitness.

The closest Wanderers came all evening was in the first few minutes when Ben Foster tipped a rasping 25-yard drive from Sam Sheridan onto the crossbar, before Oliver Gill tipped the rebound to safety.

Tamir Cohen scooped an effort high of the target in an exciting opening to the game, while midfielder Rodrigo Possebon hit the woodwork up the other end of the field.

The first penalty of the evening was converted by full-back Fabio when Richard Eckersley took a tumble inside the area under a dubious looking challenge from Zoltan Harsanyi. The Brazilian sent goalkeeper Adam Bogdan the wrong way with a confident finish from 12-yards.

The second goal came 20 minutes into the second half when James Sinclair tripped Lee Martin inside the area. Again the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, where Italian-born Macheda stepped up to double United's lead.

From the moment the score became 2-0, United more or less had the victory in the bag, although the lead might have been extended further had Matty James not struck the the frame of the goal with a curling left-foot effort.

Bolton: Bogdan, Hunt, Sinclair, Sheridan, Stokes, Basham, Cohen, Sissons, Obadeyi, Harsanyi, Campbell (Subs: Brocklehurst, Carlisle, Mooy, Bennett, O'Halloran)

Manchester United: Foster, Eckersley, Fabio, Evans, Gill, Stewart, James, Possebon, Martin, Macheda, Brady (Subs: Amos, King, Norwood, Petrucci, Dudgeon)