Wanderers missed out on a trip to Leeds United in the FA Youth Cup following a 2-0 defeat against Accrington Stanley at the UniBol.
Calvin Harper and Owen Devenport were both on target for the Reds either side of half time, while Leo Graham went closest for the hosts.
The first chance fell to Alex Henderson, but his header was simple for Jack Dallimore to deal with after getting on the end of Jack Massey’s cross.
Harper then spurned a big chance to open the scoring, failing to keep his effort down at full stretch after some good work by Massey on the right.
He had another chance moments later but Dallimore made a smart stop with his feet to keep the scores level.
The Bolton goalkeeper was again forced into action to keep out Henderson’s low drive from well outside the box.
But the visitors went in front just after the half-hour mark when Harper kept his cool to slot home after pouncing on a sloppy backpass by Adam Beardsworth.
And Stanley could have doubled their lead when Lewis Trickett wasn’t able to keep his shot down at the far post after meeting a dangerous cross from the right wing.
Dallimore also made a brave stop on the stroke of half time to deny Massey from close range after Harper had initially failed to make contact.
Wanderers made an attacking change at the break in an attempt to wrestle back control, with Yestin Shakespear replacing Beardsworth.
And they came close to getting back on level terms early in the second half when Graham’s first-time effort struck the foot of the post.
Wesley Frimpong then did well to pick out Danny Jones in the box with a low cross but he couldn’t test the goalkeeper.
Accrington also posed a threat in the final third at times, with Harper dragging wide of the post from the edge of the box.
Shakespear was inches away from scoring during the final 10 minutes after the Stanley defence had been undone by Sam Inwood’s cut-back.
The visitors were then reduced to 10 men when Aaron Pickles was shown a second yellow card.
But Wanderers barely had any chance to make the most of their numbers advantage when Devonport beat Dallimore with a ruthless finish in stoppage time.
Dallimore, Frimpong, Halford, Beardsworth (Shakespear), Hogan, Inwood, Burgess, Sharples, Fleury (Toole), Graham, Jones (Lawrence)
Unused: Barlow, Grayson, Leigh, Westwood
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