John Henry's reserves eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over a youthful Stockport County to book a fourth consecutive appearance in the Manchester Senior Cup final.

Bolton needed just a point to secure a final place against Manchester United but their progression never really looked under threat in front of the watching first team manager Owen Coyle.



Wanderers started brightly early on, Michael O'Halloran testing County goalkeeper Ian Ormson in the opening few minutes.

A succession of chances followed from Henry's side, Joe Riley providing a pin-point cross for Tom Eaves who headed inches over the Stockport crossbar.

The pressure was building, with the best chance of the opening quarter going to Eaves again whose powerful header from a corner was saved well by Ormson.

It semed only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken, and it was Wanderers who drew first blood in the 21st minute through the rampant Eaves.

The former Oldham youngester executed a perfect lob over a flailing Ormson to give his side the lead and one foot in the Manchester Senior Cup final.

The goal seemed to bring Stuart Delaney's County side to life however, with a Cameron Darkwah shot being blocked by Mark Connolly to keep his side ahead.

Connolly was the saviour once again not long after, Danny Whitehead this time with the powerful shot which hit the youngester.

As the half wore on, it was Wanderers who finished the strongest with Tope Obadeyi's powerful strike being deflected just wide of the far post through a crowded penalty area.

Bolton went close to doubling their advantage soon after the restart, with Obadeyi again at the centre of the action - this time hitting a volley just inches over the crossbar.

Eaves and O'Halloran went close for Wanderers in quick succession, but it was soon 2-0 after good work from Obadeyi yet again. The youngester powered through the County midfield before playing an inch-perfect pass to Maison McGeechan who slotted home with ease.

Stockport never looked in the game after that, with Rob Lainton remaining virtually untested in the Bolton goal.

Wanderers sensed more though, a number of shots testing Ormson before the game was finally put to bed in late on. Josh Vela cut open the County defence before setting up substitute Liam Irwin who slotted home with a clinical finish.

It could have been even better for John Henry's side, with Oluwasanmi Odelusi having a goal disallowed in the dying minutes for offside.

Wanderers: Lainton, Riley, McQuade (Irwin 74), Dennis, Connolly, Blakeman, McGeechan, Vela, Eaves (Odelusi 72), O'Halloran (Kellett 78), Obadeyi (Unused substitutes: Sheridan, Lynch)

Stockport County: Ormson, Say, Brownhill (Windsor 26), Sunderland, Thompson, Ible, Darkwah, Rhodes-Murphy (Mitten 60), Whitehead, Graham, Omoboye (Meehan 53) (Unused subtitutes: Smith, Downey)

By Emma Norris