Under-18s Report: Bolton Wanderers 2-4 Rochdale

The young Wanderers were once again unable to turn their first half performance in to three points when they hosted their Rochdale counterparts.

Wanderers controlled the majority of the first half dominating possession and creating numerous chances to put the game out of reach of their opponents.

Pressing well from the front Rochdale struggled to get out of their own half with the visitors relying heavily on counter attacks and long balls in to space which proved successful for them in the end.

They went ahead against the run of play midway through the first half but Wanderers were found themselves level almost immediately when Marcus Assarsson got into the penalty area and finished from close range.

The second half started the same as the first with Wanderers on the front foot and deservedly took the lead when Regan Riley converted from a corner.

Within minutes Rochdale were on level terms with a long ball over the top and poor defending allowed the Rochdale striker to comfortably finish.

From that moment on Dale grew in confidence and netted a further two goals to seal victory.

Wanderers’ Academy Manager Mark Litherland said: “We have got to start winning football matches. We are dominating large amounts of the game but not taking our chances.

“We are then getting undone by poor defending and making individual errors. It’s a new style of football for the lads and they are showing how much they have improved since the start of the season, but winning football matches gives everyone confidence and I know the first win is just around the corner.”

Wanderers: Hutchinson, Whalley (Brown 46), Conway (Pettifer 46), Tweedley, Colvin, Thompson (Thompson HT), Fitzmartin, Riley, Henry, Assarsson (Hall 55), Lockett (C).

Subs Not Used: Litherland.

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