Atherton Collieries suffered a first defeat in pre-season after an entertaining game saw Bolton Wanderers B run out 5-2 winners at the Skuna Stadium.
It was once again rainy conditions for the annual friendly fixture, with goals from Finn Lockett, Ben Andreucci, Leo Graham and Wes Frimpong giving the visitors a comfortable victory.
A second half own goal and a Jack Evans' strike did give Colls some hope, but in the end it was defensive errors that cost David Chadwick's side the result, punished by a ruthless Bolton academy side.
Bolton's youngsters looked assured in possession from the off and took the lead after just ten minutes, a well-worked move saw the ball played out to a trialist on the right, who smashed his first-time effort past Nico Hansen to put the visitors ahead.
Colls grew into the game slowly and really should have drawn level, Jordan Scanlon playing out on the right saw two chances denied in quick succession, courtesy of former Colls mon Luke Hutchinson in the Bolton goal.
Any hope of a Colls comeback was quickly dashed however, Nico Hansen beaten to a through ball by another former Colls mon Finn Lockett, who poked the ball past the keeper and slotted into the empty net to flatten the home sides’ momentum.
Another error followed just minutes later, a mis-control by Jordan Boon at the back allowed Ben Andrenucci to pounce, galloping through on goal and finishing into the bottom corner to give Bolton a healthy three-goal lead going into the break.
Colls had one back just minutes into the second half courtesy of a bizarre own goal. The Bolton defender attempted to clear Ben Rydel's delivery into the box from right back but the sliced the ball in the wet conditions, deceiving Hutchinson and nestling in the back of the net.
Nico Hansen was on-hand shortly after with a pair of impressive saves to keep Colls in with a shout, however it was his mis-kicked clearance that was then intercepted by Leo Graham, lofting the ball into the vacant goal to put the visitors out-of-sight.
Colls did pull one back through Jack Evans, the defender nodding home Josh Askew's delivery into the box, however it proved only to be a consolation as Wes Frimpong’s sweetly-struck effort into the top corner rounded off a deserved win for the Bolton side.
David Chadwick's side continue their pre-season preparations with a trip to 1874 Northwich on Tuesday night. Kick off 7.45pm.
Report: Danny Brown
Photo: David Featherstone
