AN EARLY deflected goal from Manchester United's Serbian international Zoran Tosic ended brave Bolton's hopes of lifting the Manchester Senior Cup for the first time since 1963.

Tosic struck after eight minutes at the Reebok Stadium when his free-kick cruelly left Wanderers keeper Adam Bogdan wrong-footed and flew into the top corner.

With United also including rising stars Rodrigo Possebon, Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck in their line-up, Wanderers were facing the prospect of a long night after conceding so quickly.

But after keeping the classy visitors at bay for the remainder of the first half, Alan Cork's youngsters then had a real go after the break and would have taken the tie to penalties but for two stunning saves from United keeper Ben Amos.

Amos kept out efforts from the outstanding Temitope Obadeyi and Aaron Mooy as Wanderers went in search of an equaliser to avenge last season's final defeat at Old Trafford.

United have won the trophy 29 times and clearly meant business with the strength of the team selected by coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

And the skill of Tosic, Wellbeck and Macheda was apparent as they carved out a number of first-half chances.

However, Tosic was the only one to locate the target and even then he was unable to beat the impressive Bogdan as his low shot was superbly tipped round the post.

Tosic also saw another deflected effort bobble just past the post but Wanderers were a different side after the break.

Obadeyi provided a constant threat with his pace which United's defence found impossible to handle and he looked certain to level when another storming run took him clear only for Amos to somehow turn away his low strike.

From the resulting corner Rhys Bennett saw a shot blocked as Wanderers enjoyed their best spell of the game.

But their last chance of ending their season with some reward came and went 25 minutes from the end when Mooy's 20-yard free-kick was kept out of the bottom corner by Amos's finger-tips.

Bolton: Bogdan; McDonald, Bennett, Eckersley, Blakeman; Obadeyi, Sheridan, Sissons, Mooy (McGeechan 71), Harsanyi (Woolfe 44), Campbell (Michail 71). Substitutes: Lainton, Gbemie.

Manchester United: Amos, James, Eckersley, Evans, De Laet, Possebon, Welbeck (Gill 74), Drinkwater (Eikrem 86), Macheda, Martin, Tosic (Stewart 86). Substitutes: Dudgeon, Devlin.