Bolton Wanderers overcame a two-goal first-half deficit to defeat ten-man Chorley at Victory Park to lift the Harold Taylor Memorial Trophy and get their pre-season campaign off to a winning start.
The hosts raced into a an early lead through Terry Gornell before Marcus Carver doubled the lead shortly, but captain Andy Teague saw red just before half time.
However, Wanderers, who fielded two different XIs in each half, claimed the victory thanks to an imperious second-half display and goals from Harry Brockbank (2) and Ryan White.
Prior to the start of the match a minute’s silence was held to acknowledge the sad passing of Bradley Lowery, the young Sunderland supporter who touched the heart of the nation.
Wanderers fielded a mixture of senior players and members of the development squad as they got their pre-season up and running against their non-league near neighbours.
Phil Parkinson employed a 4-4-2 during the opening half with Gary Madine and Adam Le Fondre up top. The back four comprised of Cole Lonsdale, Dorian Dervite, David Wheater and debutant Mark Little with Ben Alnwick between the posts.
In midfield were Jeff King, Jem Karacan, Alex Perry and Will Buckley.
Barely three minutes had transpired before the hosts took the lead through Terry Gornell who side footed from the right side of penalty box.
Wanderers had a good chance to respond ten minutes later when Perry put in a great delivery from the right hand side. Le Fondre was unable to get enough on the ball through due to a stern challenge from a defender.
The visitors were starting to see more of the ball with Little providing a good overlap on the right hand side.
However, Chorley doubled their lead after 17 minutes through a virtuoso goal from Marcus Carver. The tall frontman outpaced the Wanderers defence after advancing from just outside the box to slot past Alnwick.
Le Fondre was bundled over in the box by a clumsy looking challenge after some good play in midfield but the referee ignored the appeals.
Alnwick came to the rescue to prevent Wanderers from conceding another when he fingertipped a drive from Gornell onto the bar and over for a corner.
The hosts had captain Andy Teague sent off just before the break for violent conduct. He reacted badly to a challenge from King, who was shown a yellow card for the initial tackle.
Parkinson fielded a different XI for the second half with Mark Howard in goal, Stephen Darby, Harry Brockbank, Mark Beevers and Andy Taylor in defence; Ryan White, Darren Pratley, Josh Vela and Chris Taylor in midfield, and a trialist and Conor Hall up front.
Pratley had a header comfortably saved by Ritchie Branagan, son of former Wanderers legend Keith, after he latched on to Beevers’ knockback from a Chris Taylor free-kick.
Just before the hour mark and Wanderers reduced the arrears thanks to a Brockbank header. Again Taylor and Beevers combined to create the opportunity with the young centre-back nodding past Branagan.
Vela had a chance to equalise moment later but his shot from distance blazed over the bar.
Hall’s effort after latching well to a through-ball from midfield went straight into the hands of Branagan as Wanderers pressed for another goal.
And that goal came in fine style through White whose shot on the turn after receiving a Darby pass went into the roof of the net.
Brockbank got his second and Wanderers’ third after the hosts failed to clear a corner with the defender prodding home to put his side in front.
White came close to another when his left footed curler deflected just beyond Branagan’s far post for a corner.
The final whistle blew minutes later as Wanderers' comeback ensured they came out on top in the annual friendly encounter, with Wheater being presented with the Harold Taylor Memorial Trophy after the game.
Wanderers first half XI: Alnwick, Little, Wheater, Dervite, Lonsdale, Buckley, Karacan, Perry, King, Le Fondre, Madine.
Wanderers second half XI: Howard, Darby, Brockbank, Beevers, A.Taylor, White, Pratley, Vela, C.Taylor, Hall, Trialist.