Bolton Wanderers U23s moved into first place in the Professional Development League, after defeating Sheffield Wednesday U23s 2-1 on Monday evening at the County Ground.
First Half
Jack Stobbs had the first effort of the game for either side, as the Wednesday forward shot from distance but James Aspinall managed to save it comfortably.
Wanderers then began to enjoy a lot more of the possession in the fixture, but the opponents’ defence was resolute to the task at hand.
However, just after the half hour mark and Wanderers took the lead through Luca Navarro.
After the ball was worked well down the left flank by Joe Muscatt and Luca Connell, the ball fell to the young striker who fired home from the just outside the area. A fantastic curling effort.
Joe Pritchard very nearly made it two for the Whites, as a cross field ball found the midfielder in acres of space but the resulting shot was saved by goalkeeper McColluch.
With four minutes to go in the half and Wanderers were awarded a penalty as Pritchard was hauled down in the area.
Luca Navarro stepped up and calmly placed the ball in the bottom right corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Second Half
Eight minutes into the second period and Wednesday nearly had a goal back in the clash, as a powerful header from a set-piece seemed all but certain to be heading goalward.
However, Luca Connell got back on the line and acrobatically cleared the danger away.
Just after the hour mark and following a successful press from the Whites, Connell found Joe Pritchard on the edge of the area.
His eventual effort was inches away from the far post.
The visitors started to come back into the game in the second half, as an unmarked Preslav Borukov headed wide from the penalty spot.
Ciaran Brennan should have had the opposition back in the game, as he headed wide of the target from all of six yards following a cross into the area.
Jordan Lonchar had his chance for the Owls, but his shot was saved low by Aspinall, who then deflected away the second attempt.
With three minutes to go, Wednesday had one back as Stobbs picked up the ball out on the right flank before putting a cross into the area that found its way into the back of Wanderers' goal inadvertently.
It wasn’t enough for Neil Thompson’s men as Wanderers secured another victory in the Professional Development League at the County Ground.
Full Time
Wanderers XI: Aspinall, Brockbank, Muscatt, Boon, Zouma, Earing, Connell, Jones-Griffiths, Duke-McKenna, Pritchard, Navarro.
Substitutes: Broughton, B. Williams, King-Harmes, Smith, Darcy.