A young Bolton side were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Blue Square Premier team Barrow.

The home side were ahead after just four minutes, when a Mark Boyd free-kick found its way underneath the Bolton wall. John Hendry's men struggled in the first half, and went into the break, lucky to only be a goal down.

Jason Walker doubled Barrow's lead early in the second half, smashing the ball past a helpless Rob Lainton.

This spurred Bolton into life, back from his impressive loan spell with League One side Swindon Town; Danny Ward pulled a goal back for the Wanderers with just over twenty minutes left on the clock.

Ward almost leveled but for a superb save by the Barrow goalkeeper.

The reserves kick off their season against Arsenal at the County Ground in Leyland on August 31st. 

Wanderers: Lainton, Riley, Blakeman, Connolly, Eckersley, Basham, Sheridan, Grocott, Obadeyi, Ward, O'Halloran. (Subs: Bennett, McGeechan, Stayte, Burns, Duyile, Odelusi.)