Report: Chorley 0-1 Bolton Wanderers XI

Bolton Wanderers XI lifted the Harold Taylor Memorial Trophy after Kaiyne Woolery’s first-half strike secured a 1-0 victory over Chorley at Victory Park.

The young forward rounded ex-Wanderers keeper Sam Ashton to fire Bolton ahead midway through the first half as he scored for the third pre-season game in a row.

A good save from Ashton prevented substitute Chris Cvetko from doubling the Whites’ lead late on, but it didn’t matter come the final whistle as Woolery’s strike proved the difference on the night.

Ross Fitzsimons, Niall Maher, Andy Kellett and Medo Kamara all started for Wanderers XI following the first team’s return from their pre-season tour of Austria on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, there were also places in the Whites starting XI for Jordan Lussey and Jon Ceberio after the duo signed permanent contracts with Bolton earlier in the week.

Wanderers started the match on the back foot as hosts Chorley went on the attack straight from kick-off – Henry Winter firing over from close-range from the Magpies’ first strike on goal.

They went close again on the ten-minute mark as James Dean headed narrowly off-target following a free-kick.

Winter fired another shot over the bar from inside the area soon after, before the Whites created their first opening of the game as George Newell played in Kaiyne Woolery, only for the forward to miss the target.

However, the same duo combined as Bolton took the lead midway through the first half just moments as Woolery rushed onto another Newell through-ball, rounding goalkeeper Sam Ashton before rolling the ball home into the empty net.

Andy Kellett was involved at both ends just before the break as he first burst forward before delivering a low cross into the area, only for it to deflect kindly into Ashton’s arms.

At the other end, the former Manchester United loanee raced back to dispossess Josh Hine as the winger prepared to pull the trigger after finding himself one-on-one.

There was still time for Harry Reilly to go close from a further Trotters chance as he looked to catch Ashton off his line from distance, but was unable to hit the target as Wanderers went in at the interval a goal to the good.

Jamie Thomas was introduced to the action for the restart, and was unfortunate not to double the Whites’ lead just after the hour-mark after cutting in from the right. However, his curling strike from the edge of the box flew narrowly over the bar.

At the other end, Dale Whitham stung Ross Fitzsimons’ gloves with a powerful strike from distance.

Jon Ceberio twice lined up powerful efforts from range as the half wore on, only for both efforts to be blocked as Chorley threw bodies in front of the ball.

The hosts pressed forward as they pushed for an equaliser, and almost netted one five minutes from time as Aaron Burns found himself one-on-one inside the Bolton penalty area following a defensive mix-up.

However, despite having time on the ball, the substitute was unable to hit the target as he powered the ball harmlessly over the crossbar.

Fellow Trotters substitute Chris Cvetko was unlucky not to double Wanderers lead late on following a swift counter-attack after being played in by Woolery.

Racing into the area, the forward unleashed a shot at goal only to be denied by a smart save by Ashton at the near post.

And with no further changes to the score-line, captain Niall Maher lifted the Harold Taylor Memorial Trophy at the final following a presentation with Whites legend John McGinlay as Bolton won the annual match.

Bolton: Fitzsimons, Maher, Kellett, Holding, Finney, Medo (Campbell-Young 61), Reilly (Cvetko 61), Lussey, Woolery, Ceberio, Newell (Thomas 46).

Unused subs: Perry, Campbell, Comoby, Garratt.