Wanderers booked their place in the Manchester Senior Cup final with a 4-1 demolition of Oldham Athletic at the County Ground in Leyland.

A first half goal from Ebi Smolarek sent Alan Cork's men on their way before Javlon Campbell, Tope Obadeyi and Robert Sissons sealed the victory in the second half. Danny Whitaker had pulled a goal back on 61 minutes, but it proved scant consolation for the Latics.

From the fifth minute, it was clear that an evening of entertainment would ensue. Danny Shittu made a perfectly timed interception inside his own penalty area, but he was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul and the referee blew for a spot-kick. The Bolton players protested and after consulting his assistant, the decision was over turned.

Ebi Smolarek got Wanderers up and running on 13 minutes with a tidy close-range finish. Tope Obadeyi whipped a delicious cross in from the left and the Poland international made no mistake from five yards, stabbing into the roof of the net.

The tie ebbed and flowed for the remainder of the first period, but Bolton's second goal, seven minutes after half-time, gave the hosts a stranglehold on the contest. Again an assist came from the lively Obadeyi, who neatly flicked the ball into the path of Javlon Campbell down the right touchline. The young striker proceeded to dribble into the penalty area and following a neat shimmy, coolly hit the ball in between Oldham goalkeeper Bell and the post.

Two became three shortly after as Obadeyi grabbed the goal that his performance deserved. After picking the ball up 25 yards from goal, he paced into the penalty area and smashed the ball into the Latics goal with the help of a slight deflection.

Oldham thought they had got themselves back in the game on 61 minutes with arguably the goal of the evening. Veteran midfielder Andy Liddell played in a weighted cross from the right touchline where it was met with a crisp, powerful volley from Danny Whitaker. The 28-year-old's left-footed finish gave Ali Al Habsi absolutely no chance.

But the visitors' hopes were dashed 11 minutes from full-time when Robert Sissons capitalised on a poor clearance by Josh Bell. The goalkeeper's kick landed directly at Sissons, who carried the ball ten yards before lashing in the final goal of the game via the woodwork.

Bolton: Al Habsi, Hunt, Sinclair, Sissons, Shittu, Basham, Riga, Cohen, Obadeyi, Smolarek, Campbell (Subs: Lainton, Harsanyi, Woolfe, O'Halloran, Stokes)

Oldham: Bell, Rowney, Lomax, Lee, Esdaile-Biney, Stam, Liddell, Stephens, Brooke, Alessandra, Whitaker (Subs: Kilcourse, Ollerenshaw, Cowan, McCall, McGrath)