Dev Squad: Bolton 2-2 Man City (Man City win 4-3 on penalties)

Wellington Silva scores a first-half brace as Wanderers are knocked out of the Manchester County FA Senior Cup on penalties

IN BRIEF
Bolton Wanderers were knocked out of the Manchester County FA Senior Cup after losing on penalties to Manchester City.

Facing off in a repeat of last year’s final, the young Whites fell behind early on to a David Faupala effort.

However, Bolton fought back to lead at the break thanks to a quick-fire Wellington Silva brace – the Brazilian producing two fine individual strikes. 

Sinan Bytuqi levelled the scores from the penalty spot in regulation time, with Kaiyne Woolery and George Glendon both missing good chances to clinch victory late on.

And with the game going to penalties, Woolery and Chris Cvetko both saw their efforts saved as the Trotters fell to defeat.

 
TEAM NEWS
Wellington Silva and Kaiyne Woolery both started for Wanderers’ Development Squad as Iain Brunskill made four changes to the side that beat Sheffield Wednesday in their last outing.

Alex Finney captained the young Whites once more while Tom Walker retained his place, with Channing Campbell-Young and Jordan Lussey both coming into Bolton’s starting XI.

Elsewhere Alex Samizadeh and Jamie Thomas dropped to the bench, sitting alongside Jon Ceberio, Ross Fitzsimons and Under-18s defender Jordan Grant.


FIRST HALF
Defending champions of the Manchester County FA Senior Cup, Wanderers started brightly as they looked to reach the final for the second year running.

The first chance of the night fell to the Whites as Tom Walker rifled an effort narrowly wide of Billy O’Brien’s near post.

However, it would be the visitors who took an early lead after Sinan Bytyqi picked out David Faupala in the Bolton box, the forward calmly side-footing home across goal.

Not fazed by falling behind, the Trotters fought back and did not have to wait long to net a deserved equaliser.

Coming midway through the half, Kaiyne Woolery looked to create an opening as he had a low effort blocked on the edge of the City box.

However, Wellington Silva responded quickest to the loose ball as he showed quick feet to wrong-foot a defender and wriggle free in the area, before rounding O’Brien and rolling home into the empty net.

Wanderers could have taken the lead soon after as Walker tested the City goalkeeper once more with a curling 25-yard free-kick.

But poor distribution from O’Brien gifted the Whites the lead from their very next attack following the saved set-piece as Wellington netted his second of the evening.

Stealing possession in midfield from the City shot-stopper’s throw, the Brazilian burst forward before emphatically finishing low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to fire Bolton ahead.

With limited goal-action at either end for the remainder of the half, Bolton continued to more hold their own against their top-flight opponents to ensure they went in at the break a goal to the good.


SECOND HALF
Having returned from injury to make his first appearance for six weeks, Wellington was withdrawn at the interval with Jamie Thomas coming on in his place.

And the Wales youth international almost made an immediate impact as the Trotters caught Man City on the break early in the half, only to be denied by O’Brien when looking to burst clear of the visitors’ defence.

Woolery was next to try his luck for Wanderers following another Whites counter-attack as he looked to take on the Man City defence almost single-handedly.

Holding off three challenges, the forward forced his way to the edge of the City box only to see his subsequent shot under-pressure blocked.

Going in search of an equaliser, Manchester City’s attacks were more frequent as the half wore on.

And they were back on level-terms in controversial circumstances after Walker was adjudged to have brought down James Horsfield in the Bolton box.

Bytyqi stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick and made no mistake, sending Harry Campbell the wrong way as he slotted coolly into the bottom left-hand corner.

Moments later Campbell stood tall to deny Brandon Barker at his near post, before Tosin Adarabioyo rifled a half-volley narrowly wide following a corner.

But with penalties looming, it was the Trotters who had the best chance to seal the win and a place in the final in regulation time after Channing Campbell-Young won possession in the heart of midfield.

With the ball falling to Thomas, the forward threaded an inch-perfect through-ball to Woolery, but the forward was unable to keep his first-time effort down after running onto it on the edge of the box.

At the other end, Campbell produced a fine save with his legs to deny George Glendon from close-range in the final minute.

And with no side able to find a winner, the match went to penalties with a place in the final against Bury or Manchester United awaiting the winners.


PENALTIES

Scored. Sinan Bytyqi 0-1

Scored. Jamie Thomas 1-1 

Scored. Brandon Barker 1-2

Scored. Tom Walker 2-2

Scored. Bersant Celina 2-3

Scored. Jordan Lussey 3-3

Scored. Kean Bryan 3-4

Saved. Kaiyne Woolery 3-4

Saved. Angelino Tasende 3-4

Saved. Chris Cvetko 3-4

Manchester City win 4-3 on penalties.


FULL TIME


TEAMS

Bolton: Campbell, Spooner, Lussey, Phillips, Finney, Honeyball, Campbell-Young, Cvetko, Woolery, Walker, Wellington (Thomas 46).

Unused substitutes: Fitzsimons, Samizadeh, Ceberio, Grant.

Development Squad match report sponsors: Bristol Street Motors
Read Time: 5 mins