U21s: Bolton 1-1 Birmingham City

Kaiyne Woolery on scoresheet as Wanderers maintain unbeaten start

IN BRIEF

Bolton Wanderers Under-21s maintained their unbeaten start to the season courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City at Macron Stadium.

Kaiyne Woolery broke free to put Wanderers with a well-taken goal midway through the first half after cutting in from the left.

However, Wes McDonald fired Birmingham level soon after, and despite both goalkeepers Ross Fitzimsons and Jacob Weaver being called into action in the second half, neither side was unable to find a winner.


TEAM NEWS

Ross Fitzsimons, Quade Taylor, Oscar Threlkeld, Filip Twardzik and Kaiyne Woolery were all handed their first starts of the season as Iain Brunskill named an experienced side for the visit of Birmingham City.

Lining up in a 3-4-3 formation, Jamie Thomas operated behind George Newell and Woolery in attack, while Taylor and Twardzik were joined by Hayden White in the back three.


FIRST HALF

In a half of few chances, Wanderers started brightly as they won a number of early corners but were unable to test Jacob Weaver in the Birmingham goal.

However, Kaiyne Woolery fired the Whites ahead midway through the half with a fine solo-strike, sprinting down the left before bursting into the area and slotting under Weaver.

The forward came close to doubling Bolton’s lead just after the half-hour mark, curling wide first-time from the edge of the area after being played in by Jamie Thomas.

Birminghan equalised soon after as Wes McDonald found space inside the penalty area before thundering a strike past Ross Fitzsimons into the top corner.

In the last action of the half, Filip Twardzik shot wide after Jamie Thomas’ 25-yard free-kick had rebounded back to him off the wall – ensuring the sides went in at the break with the scores level.


SECOND HALF

With the visitors attacking straight from kick-off, Fitzsimons had to get down well to his right to deny Birmingham a second goal within moments of the restart.

At the other end, an equally impressive save from Weaver denied the Trotters the lead as George Newell turned inside the area before powering a fierce strike towards the near post top corner.

Fitzsimons was called into action again on the hour-mark, producing another fine fingertip save to keep out a stinging McDonald drive from distance.

Wanderers introduced Jon Ceberio in place of Jamie Thomas midway through the half as they went in search of a late winner.

And the Spaniard almost made an immediate impact as Andy Kellett’s free-kick deflected kindly to him inside the area, only for a number of Birmingham bodies to combine to block his effort.

But despite late Whites’ late pressure, they were unable to find a winner ahead of next weekend’s Manchester FA Senior Cup Final against Manchester City.

FULL TIME


TEAMS

Bolton: Fitzsimons, Maher, Kellett, White, Taylor, Twardzik, Threlkeld (Perry 79), Campbell-Young, Woolery, Thomas (Ceberio 70), Newell.

Unused substitutes: Campbell, Cvetko, Garratt.

Under-21s match report sponsors: Bristol Street Motors

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