Firsts turn on the style

A TRIP that has proved tricky in recent seasons was overcome with a degree of panache, as Bolton ran out comfortable 4-0 winners.

Lining up with Mathieson in midfield added some solidity at the expense of flair, but did not stop Bolton starting at a frantic pace.

The opening goal came quickly, Mathieson pouncing on a poor clearance and sending Aitken clear, for his cross to be nipped home at the far post by Monte. Bolton held a high defensive line all game. At the heart, Jones, Tobutt and Williams snuffed out any hint of a threat, to allow Bolton to dominate.

The Knutsford keeper earned all his luck, as shots fizzed in from all angles, hitting body parts and the post, but not the net. Chadwick and Short provided the most potent combination down the right, benefiting from Woods's distribution in centre midfield.

One such thrust drew a penalty corner award, which Woods finished with a crashing reverse stick drive. 2-0 at the half, but no let up for Bolton's beleaguered opposition. Aitken's busy running and Monte's silky skills are becoming a bewitching mix up front.

Monte took the plaudits with two to complete his first Bolton hat trick, crisply struck shots both. Aitken could have added to the tally, but his penalty stroke agonisingly came back off the post - a rare escape and galling for Tobutt, who had seen his first goal of the season from a wonderful flick denied by the foul for which the stroke was awarded.

This only left keeper Neville to have his moment of glory with a stunning triple save, for all to have played above themselves. Another fine performance setting the team up for the top of the table clash against Bebington next Saturday.

Bolton 2 Letchworth 3 (aet)

Against self-appointed superior opposition, Bolton rose to the challenge in the H A Trophy and were desperately unlucky to lose to a Golden Goal in the last minute of extra time.

Letchworth seemed to think that they were in for a Sunday afternoon stroll, but were rudely shaken by the power and pace of Bolton's start. Martin Luke ran the game in the engine room of the midfield, ably assisted by Chris Williams, freed for the day from his defensive duties. Aitken made up for his miss the day before, with a classic poacher's goal, slapping home a rebound from Tobutt's drive into the area.

A second could have killed the game, but Aitken refused the penalty stroke awarded when Jones was denied on the line by a well placed foot. Instead Monte confidently stepped forward, but his shot grazed the post as it went wide. Letchworth responded with some passion and began to make inroads into the Bolton half. However, Chris Dean and Scott Tobutt seemed to have weathered the storm, only for a cruel deflection to a free man at the far post, who beat Neville with a high flick finish.

Back came Bolton, who ended the half ahead, through another power drive by Chris Williams. Letchworth grabbed a second equaliser straight after the restart. A high ball into the area was not cut out, as surprisingly no whistle came, and the ball was deflected in.

Only in the final moments of extra time did the game come back to life. Pushing for a win, Bolton were twice caught at the back. Only a brave stop on the line from Mathieson denied them the first time, he and not the ball ending up in the back of the net. The second brought a fine save from Neville, only for the rebound to fall to the wrong man who flicked the ball home for the winner.