Report: Bolton 3-2 Bury (AET)
IN BRIEFBolton Wanderers came from behind to secure their passage to the second round of the Capital One Cup on what was a dramatic night at Macron Stadium.
Ryan Lowe had given Bury the lead midway through the first half, and they had looked like holding onto the lead before a stoppage-time penalty from substitute Craig Davies levelled the scores right at the death.
In a chaotic opening period to extra-time, fellow substitute Neil Danns scored twice in the space of three minutes to put the Whites 3-1 ahead.
However, a Jim McNulty header halved the deficit moments later, but the Trotters held on to secure their place in Wednesday night’s second round draw.
TEAM NEWS
Conor Wilkinson came into the side to make his senior Whites debut as manager Dougie Freedman made nine changes to the side that lost at Watford.
With Jay Spearing only on the bench and no Matt Mills, Adam Bogdan returned in goal to captin Bolton for the first time, while Dorian Dervite, Liam Feeney and Liam Trotter all made their first starts since signing for the club permanently.#
Meanwhile youngster Oscar Threlkeld started at right back, while there was a place on the bench for youngster Zach Clough.
FIRST HALF
With the rain pelting down at Macron Stadium, both sides looked to break on the counter-attack in what was an even start to the half in BL6.
Liam Feeney, Rob Hall and debut Conor Wilkinson all looked lively for the Whites early on, but it was the visitors who took the lead midway through the first half, much to the delight of the jubilant travelling support.
Started by a free-kick inside their own box, Bury attacked quickly on the break as Andew Tutte broke free down the right-hand side. Whipping in a low-cross to Ryan Lowe, the veteran striker was left free at the far post and gifted a simple tap-in to hammer his side in front.
Bolton fought back however, and missed a chance to level the scores just short of the half-hour mark as Hall blasted over from an acute angle after being picked out at the far post by Feeney’s cross.
The Trotters came close again as Liam Trotter played in Jermaine Beckford with a clever through-ball. However, the forward failed to beat the onrushing Shwan Jalal, as the Iraqi goalkeeper smothered his tame strike on goal.
David Wheater and Beckford both saw half-chances go begging just before the interval as Wanderers went in at the break a goal behind.
SECOND HALF
Revitalised by the break, the Whites started the second half brightly, and had only Bury substitute keeper Rob Lainton to curse for their failure to find an equaliser.
Following a good team passing move, Trotter played a clever one-two with Beckford on the edge of the area, only to see his low effort kept out by Lainton.
Moments later the 24-year-old held his ground well to keep out a thunderous close-range strike from Wheater following a goalmouth scramble after a corner.
At the other end Adam Bogdan had to be alert to tip away a clever Nicky Adams’ free-kick, but it was to be a rare Bury chance in the opening third of the second half.
Neil Danns, Craig Davies and Chung-Yong Lee were introduced to the action in place of Darren Pratley, Wilkinson and Hall as the Trotters pushed for an equaliser.
Lainton had to be alert to claw a dangerous Beckford cross, with Lee waiting to pounce at the far post, while Davies was unlucky to fire wide on the turn when well-placed in the area as Wanderers continued to press.
Beckford came close again late on, firing over after a smart turn in the area, while Lainton got down well to keep out a fierce Trotter free-kick late on.
And just as it looked like Bury would hold on for a narrow win, substitute Davies won a stoppage-time penalty for the Whites after being upended in the box by Lainton, before picking himself up to hammer home the equaliser and force extra-time.
FIRST HALF EXTRA-TIME
Eager to avoid penalties, Bolton were in explosive form following the restart and soon took the lead for the first time on the night as a Danns’ header from a corner was diverted in off the boot of a Bury defender.
If there was any about who scored the Trotters’ second goal, then there were no doubts about the third as Danns stepped up to curl a delightful 25-yard free-kick into the top right-hand corner just moments later.
However, Bury halved Wanderers’ lead almost immediately, coming from a free-kick of their own as Jim McNulty rose highest to head home Adams’ free-kick at the far post, as fans at Macron Stadium were left on the edge of their seats.
SECOND HALF EXTRA-TIME
Wanderers looked confident following the restart as they tried to frustrate Bury by keeping hold of possession.
In a rare second half chance for either side, Lainton had to be quick of his line to punch the ball clear just as Beckford looked like running onto a long Whites’ ball forward.
The Shakers tired as the match wore on, allowing Bolton to see out the tie and clinch their place in the second round of the Capital One Cup.
FULL TIME