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Dan Barnes Profile Image
Luca Stephenson and John McAtee played an hour (Image: NQNW)
Luca Stephenson and John McAtee played an hour (Image: NQNW)
John McAtee and Luca Stephenson both played an hour as Wanderers Under-21s drew 3-3 against Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League Cup.
McAtee got on the scoresheet with a superb chip and Stephenson got more valuable minutes under his belt after a spell out with a thigh injury. David Watson and Nathan Broome were also among the starters.
Tobey Ritchie and Tom King were also on target for the Whites, who had a penalty saved in the latter stages at Leyland.
Rovers landed the first blow when Levi Ball’s shot was parried by Broome and Harry Lister reacted quickest to fire home the rebound.
But Bolton hit back almost immediately through McAtee’s moment of magic, catching out the goalkeeper with a clever finish.
Rovers went back in front when Wanderers lost possession in a dangerous area and Jayden Sergeant was played through on goal, keeping his cool to pick out the bottom corner.
Bolton hit back again when Ritchie won the ball high up the pitch and raced through on goal before lifting a deft finish over the goalkeeper.
Rovers went ahead for the third time in a frantic opening 45 minutes and it was Sergeant again, hitting a rocket into the roof of the net from outside the box.
McAtee continued to look lively after the break, forcing the goalkeeper into a save and then hitting the side netting moments later.
Ball nearly caught Broome out with a clever free kick from out on the right, but the Bolton keeper did well to keep it out.
Broome was called into action again as the second half progressed, making a couple of impressive stops to deny Lucas Houghton and Harvey Higgins.
Wanderers got back on level terms when King found a pocket of space on the edge of the area and hit a low drive into the corner.
Julian Darby’s side could have won it late on when they were awarded a penalty, but the Rovers keeper made an excellent save to deny Harry Leigh.