U21s: Bolton 1-1 Wolves

Ten-man Bolton Wanderers came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the County Ground, Leyland.

Bradley Reid fired the visitors ahead midway through the first half, before Whites captain Oscar Threlkeld was sent off for a late tackle on Albert Torras soon after.

Recovering well after the break, James Ball levelled for Bolton, firing home Ryan Sellers' cutback, before Wolves had a man sent off themselves after Tendai Matinyadze hauled down Kaiyne Woolery inside the area.

Woolery picked himself up to take the spot-kick only to see his effort saved by Wolves substitute goalkeeper Jonathan Flatt.

Naming a very different side to the team that faced Newcastle United in Wanderers’ last match, the Whites made six changes as James Ball, Channing Campbell-Young, Rob Holding, Chris Lester, Ryan Sellers and Kaiyne Woolery all came into the starting XI.

Meanwhile there were places on the bench for Under-18s trio Alex Honeyball, Enock Likoy-Elumba and Jamie Thomas as Bolton named a youthful side.

Following a slow start to the match with the majority of the play taking place in the middle of the park, visitors Wolves were forced into an early changed as experienced goalkeeper Tomas Kuszczak limped off to be replaced Jonathan Flatt.

Eager to test the new arrival in goal, captain Oscar Threlkeld tried his luck from range with Wanderers’ first meaningful shot on goal only to see his thunderous effort drift narrowly wide.

However, Wolves took the lead soon after as Bradley Reid hit the target with a well-placed strike from inside the area.

Reid thought he had doubled his side’s lead on the half-hour mark following a swift Wolves counter-attack, providing the finishing touch at the far post after running onto a low cross, however his effort was ruled out for offside.

The Whites’ chances were dealt a blow minutes later as Threlkeld was dismissed for a late challenge on Albert Torras.

However, this did nothing to dishearten Bolton as Kaiyne Woolery came close to netting an equaliser, turning well inside the area before shooting only to see his effort deflected wide.

At the other end Ross Fitzsimons had to be alert to race off his line and deny Reid a second goal just before half-time after the forward found himself one-on-one, ensuring the deficit remained just one as the two sides went in at the break.

Reid went close again to doubling Wolves’ lead within seconds of the restart as he tried his luck with a curling strike from range having spotted Fitzsimons off his line, only to see his effort rebound back off the bar.

Awakened by the near-miss, Wanderers began to press with Channing Campbell-Young the next to unleash a strike from distance. However, his effort was straight at Flatt much to the relief of the goalkeeper.

Having controlled possession despite their man disadvantage, the Whites equalised midway through the second half following a good team move.

Finding himself in a good position out on the left, Ryan Sellers pulled the ball back into the path of James Ball, leaving the midfielder with a simple finish as he calmly slotted past Flatt with a first-time strike.

Bolton could have found themselves ahead moments later after Woolery raced into the area, finding himself one-on-one, following a quick counter-attack.

However, before the forward could pull the trigger he was scythed down in the area by Tendai Matinyadze – the Wolves man receiving a red card for his troubles.

Woolery himself stepped up to take the spot-kick but he was unable to beat Flatt as the keeper dived to his right to keep out the kick before the Trotters forward volleyed the rebound harmlessly over the bar. 

There was still time for Georg Iliev to almost snatch a late winner as the ball fell kindly to him inside the area. However, he was unfortunate to see a last-ditch sliding challenge deflect his strike narrowly over the bar.

And with no further efforts on goal, both sides were forced to settle for an equal share of the spoils following an entertaining encounter at the County Ground.

Bolton: Fitzsimons, Holding, Sellers, Taylor, Finney, Ball, Lester, Threlkeld, Woolery, Iliev, Campbell-Young.

Unused subs: Thomas, Campbell, Likoy-Elumba, Honeyball.

Wolves: Kuszczak (Flatt 10), Matinyadze, O’Hanlon, Kellermann, Ebanks-Landell, Carter, Bancessi (Keita 72), Evans, Reid, Torras (70), Jacobs.

Unused subs: Upton, Wilson.