Report: Southport 0-3 Bolton XI

Bolton Wanderers XI clinched a comfortable victory over ten-man Southport in what was a heated contest at the Merseyrail Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Two second-half goals in quick-succession shortly after the break from Kaiyne Woolery and Jamie Thomas saw the Whites take control of the clash, before Jon Ceberio wrapped up the scoring late on.

It could have been more for Wanderers, with Thomas having only the inside of the post to curse for not netting a brace, while Southport had Louis Almond sent off with 15 minutes left on the clock for dissent. 

David Wheater made his first appearance of pre-season as Iain Brunskill named an attacking team for Wanderers’ penultimate game before the start of the season.

Kaiyne Woolery, Jamie Thomas and George Newell were all named in the starting XI, while there were also starting berths for Medo Kamara, Filip Twardzik and Hayden White. 

There was a late change to the teamsheet as Callum Spooner came in for Andy Kellett.

In a fiery start at the Mersey Community Stadium, both sides were fortunate to remain with 11 men inside the opening minutes following heated clashes between Medo Kamara and Andy Wright, and Hayden White and Luke Foster.

Soon after, Wanderers had their first shot on goal as Filip Twardzik shot narrowly wide of the Southport goal.

The Whites looked the more-dangerous side and came close again minutes later as Kaiyne Woolery sprinted down the left before pulling the ball back to George Newell inside the six-yard box. 

However, being forced stretch to connect, the former Everton man was unfortunate to see his effort drift narrowly wide of the far post. 

At the other end, Ross Fitzsimons had to twice be alert in a matter of moments to deny both Will Beesley and Richard Brodie from distance, the duo both looking to take advantage of the wet conditions with powerful low strikes from range.

Keen to test out Andy Coughlin, Jamie Thomas and Callum Spooner were the next to try their luck from range, only to be denied by the opposing goalkeeper on both occasions.

Bolton continued to threaten as Woolery and Twardzik were denied inside the area by Luke Foster throwing his body in front of their goal-bound strikes on the half-hour mark.

The Trotters lost David Wheater to injury soon after as Jordan Lussey came on in his place, with Filip Twardzik filling in at centre-back.

Continuing to pile on the pressure in the dying embers of the half, Coughlin twice denied George Newell and Woolery at the near post, while Thomas saw a first-time effort drift agonisingly wide as the two sides went in at the break with the scores goalless.

Wasting no time after the break, the Whites took the lead within moments of the restart following a great run forward into the area from Medo.

Shrugging off a couple of challenges, the Sierra Leone international got to the by-line before whipping in a powerful low cross, leaving Woolery with a simple finish into an unguarded net at the far post to open the scoring.

Thomas could have doubled Bolton’s lead soon after, only to see his powerful first-time strike from Spooner’s cross tipped over Coughlin. However, he would not be denied for long as the same duo combined to net the Trotters’ second of the day a minute later. 

Breaking free at the near post, the forward was in the right place at the right time to toe Spooner’s low cross beyond Coughlin and into the net.

Thomas was again involved minutes later as Newell’s shot across goal deflected into his path. However, an awkward bounce saw the ball deflect off him into Coughlin’s grateful grasp.

Following a fantastic solo-run forward from White, Thomas was denied yet again on the hour-mark after being teed up by the defender on the edge of the area.

Despite leaving Coughlin well-beaten, he was desperately unlucky to see his thunderous strike cannon back off the inside of the post and away.

Louis Almond was sent off for dissent with 15 minutes left on the clock, and the Trotters took full advantage of their man advantage late on, substitute Jon Ceberio breaking free of the Southport defence to calmly slot post Coughlin after finding himself one-on-one to wrap up an emphatic win.

Bolton: Fitzsimons, Spooner, Maher, White, Wheater (Lussey 38), Medo (Solomon 62), Perry, Twardzik (Garratt 79), Woolery (Cvetko 72), Thomas, Newell (Ceberio 58).

Unused substitutes: Campbell.