Report: Paderborn 4-1 Bolton

Bolton Wanderers were well beaten in their second pre-season fixture of the 2015/16 programme, succumbing to a 4-1 defeat against German side Paderborn at Franz Fekete Stadion.

With a number of players sitting out, Bolton more than matched the recently-relegated Bundesliga side for the first half. Gary Madine, who impressed in his 65 minutes on the field, scored Bolton’s goal to level the game up.

But in the end Paderborn would run out comfortable winners, with three goals following in quick succession, one of which was a stunning 40-yard drive.

Neil Lennon opted for a somewhat more experienced side to the one that had started the game two days earlier against Sturm Graz, with Darren Pratley and Mark Davies in the engine room from the off.

Zach Clough, Liam Trotter, Emile Heksey, Max Clayton and Oscar Threlkeld all watched on from the stands.

The opening 45 minutes were a pretty even. 

Both sides enjoyed prolonged periods of possession, but clear goalscoring chances were few and far between.

Nick Proschwitz, once of Hull City and Barnsley, blazed open on seven minutes after Ben Amos had reacted superbly to keep out Moritz Stoppelkamp from an acute angle.

Trialist Stephen Dobbie fired Bolton’s first attempt over the goal from 30 yards.

As the half wore on Madine’s influence as the focal point of Bolton’s attack continued to grow, as won copious aerial duels and proved a general nuisance for the Paderborn backline.

But it was the German side who opened the scoring.

Marvin Bakalorz stumbled over a grounded Amos after a pull back from the left byline, with the referee pointing straight to the spot. Proschwitz duly slammed the spot kick home.

But Bolton responded, with Madine superbly equalising just three minutes later.

Uwe Hunemeier miss-judged a long ball forward, with Madine running in behind before clipped a deft lob from 25 yards over the goalkeeper and into the net.

As the game approached half time, proceedings livened up with a series of rash tackles. Hunemeier flattened Mark Davies, much to the frustration of the Wanderers bench.

Bolton arguably started the second half the better side, and could have been in front within five minutes of the restart had Dobbie’s low effort found the target.

But instead Paderborn regained the lead on 55 minutes, with Suleyman Koc’s cross from the right headed home by Mahir Saglik at the back post.

A spectacular third soon followed, as Marcel Ndjeng’s 40-yard effort caught everyone in the stadium by surprise before sailing into the net.

A raft of substitutions then followed, as the game became more and more disjointed. 

Idir Ouali added a fourth for Paderborn, converting at the back post after a cross from the right.

Liam Feeney and Dobbie combined late on, before the former’s eventual shot was kept out at the near post.

Bolton Wanderers: Amos (Fitzsimons 69), White (Taylor 46), Dervite, Derik, Twardzik (Moxey 46), Hall, Pratley (Danns 65), Davies (Spearing 46), Feeney, Dobbie, Madine (Walker 65)

Unused substitutes: Kellett, Maher, Medo