Bolton continue unbeaten pre-season with narrow victory at Barrow

Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt enjoyed a successful return to former club Barrow as the Whites won 1-0 at the Progression Solicitors Stadium to continue their unbeaten pre-season.

Oladapo Afolayan’s strike late in the first-half was enough to earn the victory, with summer signing and former Bluebirds’ man Joel Dixon impressing in the Wanderers goal.

In the scorching Cumbrian sunshine, Bolton had the first effort of the game through Gethin Jones, but former Wanderers’ academy defender and current Barrow captain Mark Ellis did well to clear his lines in the early stages.

Barrow then began to get on the front foot through Remeao Hutton, who caused the Whites countless issues down the right and created space on numerous occasions to whip crosses into the box.

Josh Gordon, Patrick Brough and Matt Platt all headed over the crossbar respectively having met those crosses, meaning that despite the aerial tirade, Bolton goalkeeper Dixon was yet to be properly tested.

Though struggling to make their mark on the game, Evatt’s Bolton side is filled with quality throughout. Earning promotion from League Two last season wasn’t always an easy ride for the Wanderers, but it was made easier with January signings including Dapo Afolayan on loan from Premier League club West Ham United.

Bolton opted to turn that loan move into a permanent this summer, and Afolayan proved just why in Cumbria with a tidy finish just before half-time to put his team in front. Having linked up well with Eoin Doyle, the 23-year-old cut into the box, eased past the challenge of one defender and fired the ball low into the bottom corner of the net.

Barrow ‘keeper Farman hadn’t had a lot to do in the first half, but come half-time, he and his teammates found themselves 1-0 down despite being on top for much of the opening period.

Early in the second half, the Bluebirds composed themselves and had started to move the ball around well though lacked the firepower required to break down a resolute Bolton defence.

Tom Beadling’s effort sailed over the bar after some good build-up play in and around the box, but that was as close as either side came in the early stages after the restart before the substitutions started to be introduced by both teams in mass.

New Barrow manager Mark Cooper opted to make six at once, while Bolton made theirs at more frequent intervals. Notably, Dennis Politic came on for the final 25 minutes of action, his first game of any kind since suffering a long-term knee injury in pre-season last campaign at Loughborough.

The Romanian has also had to endure a COVID isolation in recent weeks, so when he took to the field, he was given a rapturous welcome by the 600 or so travelling Wanderers faithful and almost had an assist to his name when Antoni Sarcevic met his corner at the front post.

Bolton’s club captain – also a second half substitute – was unable to direct his shot goalwards though, and saw it bounce behind for a goal kick. The pair also linked up shortly after, creating space for Politic to have a shot from range but again, this didn’t trouble Farman.

In the last 15 minutes, Bolton’s backline stood up to the test of a Barrow surge well. ‘Keeper Dixon pulled off a superb acrobatic save to deny Dimitri Sea’s overhead kick from close range after the ball had bounced around in the box, a stop which in all honesty probably won the Whites the game.

Young defender Adam Senior also did well to head Josh Kay’s effort away from danger before it reached Dixon, and that was the clean sheet secured.

Bolton did have a second goal ruled out for offside through the head of summer signing Amadou Bakayoko as he met a free-kick from the left, but had that counted, the scoreline would have been harsh on the Bluebirds.

That was the last action of note at Holker Street and Bolton came away with a narrow 1-0 victory courtesy of Afolayan’s first half strike which sees them continue their unbeaten pre-season record.

Evatt’s men now have just one more friendly remaining which sees Championship outfit and local rivals Blackburn Rovers visit the University of Bolton stadium next Saturday – July 31. The Whites will then kick-off their League One campaign at home to MK Dons on August 7.

Meanwhile, Barrow have now won just one of their three pre-season fixtures to date, and their final friendly sees the Bluebirds visit Southport with that game also taking place next Saturday. An opening day trip to Stevenage awaits on August 7 as Cooper’s men begin their second season in League Two.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt