Connor Hall was the hat-trick hero as Bolton Wanderers Under-23s mauled their Hull City counterparts 6-1 at Leyland on Monday evening.
The 19 year-old forward was the star of the show throughout the contest as his three-goal salvo inspired David Lee’s men to an emphatic victory.
First team performers Will Buckley, Derik Osede and Craig Noone also played key roles during the win and got some valuable game time under their belts.
The hosts took the lead inside five minutes when Hall latched on to a smart through-ball by the industrious Jeff King before expertly slotting past Will Mannion in the City goal.
Lee’s charges doubled their lead shortly afterwards as Derik nodded Buckley’s left-side cross beyond Mannion’s reach.
Two suddenly became three inside the first half-hour when King rounded the advancing keeper with a quality finish.
The visitors pegged a goal back through forward Tom Powell but it proved to be a mere consolation as Wanderers, and in particular Hall, pressed and harangued the Tigers’ backline.
Hall notched his second on the stroke of half-time after converting Buckley’s pass.
Within seconds of the restart, Hall, hungry for more goals, had an effort closed down.
But Wanderers added to their lead shortly afterwards when Ellis Barkworth deflected Noone’s left footed drive beyond his own keeper.
Hall was again denied by a smart save from Mannion who somehow kept out the frontman’s header.
But he got his just desserts to cap off a fine performance with just under twenty minutes to go when he powered substitute Cole Lonsdale’s cross beyond Mannion.
Bolton: Aspinall, Brockbank, Muscatt, Mitchell, Edwards, Derik (Jones-Griffiths 72), Noone (White 72), Earing, Hall, King, Buckley (Lonsdale 62).
Subs not used: Politic, Morris.