Wanderers completed their third pre-season fixture in the baking sunshine at Broadhurst Park with the players getting more valuable minutes under their belts.
With the score goalless at the break, one of the home side’s trialists scored just moments into the second-half following a Joel Dixon mistake. Ian Evatt’s men did however find an equaliser through George Johnston with almost the last kick of the game.
The first half saw opportunities for both sides, with the first decent opening falling to Amadou Bakayoko. Dapo Afolayan teased the FC United defence down the left-hand side before delivering a superb cross into the six-yard box which was turned narrowly wide of the post by Bakayoko on the stretch.
Michael Donohue showed a trick down the right-hand side to get the better of Afolayan and his low cross broke to Jordan Simpson who skewed a shot wide of the target from inside the penalty area. An opportunity for the home side.
Regan Linney had the next chance for United just before the twenty-minute mark, but after cutting inside from the right-hand side he could only see a left-footed strike from the edge of the box go a yard or so over the bar.
Midway through the first half, Wanderers had the ball in the net through Antoni Sarcevic but the goal was ruled out for an offside decision following some tidy approach play down the left from both Declan John and Kieran Lee who combined well.
Moments after Amadou Bakayoko’s attempts to latch onto a through ball were halted by Dan Lavercombe in the FC United goal, Ali Waddecar saw an angled drive kept out by Matt Gilks after he had latched onto Michael Potts’ through ball.
Lloyd Isgrove showed great endeavour to latch onto a ball into the right channel and get the better of his man before looping a cross into the box which dropped to Bakayoko before the big forward turned the ball narrowly over the bar to let the hosts off the hook.
Shortly before the break, Aaron Morris skewed a shot wide of the target from the edge of the box in a promising position following some good work down the left by Linney.
Wanderers got off to the worst possible start to the second half when FC United Trialist #10 dispossessed Joel Dixon inside his own box before putting the ball into the back of the net.
Ian Evatt’s men looked to respond quickly with a quick break forward, but Liam Gordon’s cross from the left flew just over the head of an advancing Harry Brockbank at the far post.
Good play down the right-hand side involving Brockbank and Xavier Amaechi saw the latter’s ball find Nathan Delfouneso and possession broke into the path of George Thomason who saw a low drive from the edge of the box held onto by Lavercombe midway through the second half.
Amaechi looked to take matters into his own hands shortly afterwards, going on a powerful run into FC United territory before firing a shot just wide of the post.
The Hamburg loanee winger delivered a cross to the far post which wasn’t dealt with and the ball came to Andrew Tutte who saw a powerful goal-bound effort blocked, with Wanderers looking to push for an equaliser in the latter stages of the game.
United substitute Fin Sinclair-Smith conjured up some neat footwork and a venomous shot which went across Dixon’s goal and came back off the inside of the post after he’d ran at Brockbank. A let-off for Wanderers with the hosts looking to sew up the victory.
The hosts could not sew up the victory and right on the full-time whistle, Wanderers found an equaliser through George Johnston. Ronan Darcy delivered a deep cross to the far post for Adam Senior to nod the ball across goal, allowing Johnston to head the ball into the net from merely two yards out.
FC United of Manchester: Lavercombe (Carnell 80), Morris, White (Ennis 46), Simpson (Mulvey 70), Trialist #5, Trialist #6, Donohue (Owen 65), Potts © (Bennett 80), Waddecar (Pemberton 59), Trialist #10 (Trialist #15 76), Linney (Sinclair-Smith 54).
Subs not used: N/A
Goal: Trialist #10 (46)
Bolton Wanderers: Gilks (Dixon 46), Jones (Brockbank 46), Almeida Santos (Johnston 46), Baptiste (Senior 60), John (Gordon 46), Sheehan (Williams 46), Lee (Tutte 46), Sarcevic © (Thomason 46), Isgrove (Amaechi 46), Afolayan (Delfouneso 46), Bakayoko (Darcy 60).
Subs not used: Conway.
Goal: Johnston (90)