Match report from Wanderers' 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers
A brace from Zach Clough and a well taken Conor Wilkinson finish sealed a 3-0 win for Bolton Wanderers against neighbours Blackburn Rovers at the Reebok Stadium.
The Whites were comfortable from start to finish against Rovers as they claimed their first win of the 2013/14 campaign.
The first chance of the match arose in the 14th minute when Blackburn full back Darragh Lenihan cut inside from the right hand side to hit a powerful strike down the throat of Jay Lynch, but the Wanderers keeper was on hand to beat away.
One minute later, Wanderers went one better than their counterparts and found the back of the net courtesy of a superb team move which was stylishly finished off by Clough from inside the penalty box.
The east Lancashire outfit were only a fraction away from equalising five minutes later as John O’Sullivan hit a free-kick over the frame from 25-yards out.
Bolton stood strong at the back for the remainder of the first half, with Rovers causing little threat in attack and were limited to half chances by the Wanderers back line.
At the other end of the pitch, Jamie Fullarton’s side created a further two goal scoring opportunities before referee Steve Copeland blew his whistle for half time, but Tom Youngs and Conor Wilkinson were both unable to put David Raya to test.
The Whites were comfortable from start to finish against Rovers as they claimed their first win of the 2013/14 campaign.
The first chance of the match arose in the 14th minute when Blackburn full back Darragh Lenihan cut inside from the right hand side to hit a powerful strike down the throat of Jay Lynch, but the Wanderers keeper was on hand to beat away.
One minute later, Wanderers went one better than their counterparts and found the back of the net courtesy of a superb team move which was stylishly finished off by Clough from inside the penalty box.
The east Lancashire outfit were only a fraction away from equalising five minutes later as John O’Sullivan hit a free-kick over the frame from 25-yards out.
Bolton stood strong at the back for the remainder of the first half, with Rovers causing little threat in attack and were limited to half chances by the Wanderers back line.
At the other end of the pitch, Jamie Fullarton’s side created a further two goal scoring opportunities before referee Steve Copeland blew his whistle for half time, but Tom Youngs and Conor Wilkinson were both unable to put David Raya to test.
Five minutes into the second half and former Millwall centre forward Wilkinson doubled the Whites’ advantage. Timing his run to perfection, the 18-year-old escaped his marker to slide the ball home after a low cross from Chris Lester.
Looking for a quick response, the visitors hit the crossbar from an acute angle in the 54th minute courtesy of number nine Dean Rittenberg.
However, despite a brief spell of Rovers possession, culminating in a couple of half chances, it was the hosts who found the net once again in the 62nd as Clough claimed a brace with a deflected shot from the edge of the box which left goalkeeper Raya
rooted to the spot.
The hosts went on to comfortably see out the remainder of the contest and secure all three points against their near neighbours.
Bolton: Lynch, White, Kellett, Threlkeld, Bolger, Kelly, Lester, Gregus, Wilkinson (Knight 76), Clough (Ariyibi 63), Youngs. Subs: Holding, Campbell, Matthews.