Bolton Wanderers fall short against promotion rivals Wycombe

Bolton have never won a league game at Adams Park but will go into Wednesday night’s Papa Johns Trophy semi-final at Accrington with bruised bodies and egos after falling just short in a fiercely competitive contest. 

Wing’s goal came at the bitter end of the first half, a product of a clever corner routine. 

Bolton had huffed and puffed, hitting the bar through Gethin Jones, and pushed hard in the last 20 minutes to salvage something for their promotion chase. 

Defeat drops them back down to fourth, and Evat will be hoping a hugely important week gets better from here. 

It is rarely anything other than a battle at Wycombe, and the bruises were dished out from minute one as a wild challenge from Jordan Obita left Conor Bradley – back in the side for Declan John – in a heap, and had Ian Evatt screaming for punishment from the technical area. 

Wanderers had chances. Ricardo Santos hooked an early effort over and Gethin Jones hammered a shot against the underside of the crossbar, but in general, the war of attrition was fought in their own half against a tide of set pieces and crosses.  

James Trafford pulled off one marvellous save to push aside Sam Vokes’ header and a couple of more routine ones from Josh Scowen and Wing. 

Eoin Toal also chased back to make an impeccable challenge on Brandon Hanlan as he bore down on goal. 

For the first 20 minutes, Wanderers were moving the ball well through midfield but it was no coincidence that Wycombe took hold when their approach went more direct. Whereas Kyle Dempsey and Aaron Morley had been first to most things early on, suddenly the home side had control. 

Jack Grimmer had to be helped off the pitch after a nasty head injury which needed several minutes of treatment, and Wycombe fans also screamed for Shola Shoretire to be punished by ref Andy Woolmer after another aerial incident involving Scowen. 

Just as the heavyweights were about to be told to go back to their corner, Wycombe came up with a set piece that Bolton could do nothing about. 

Wing picked out Garath McCleary, who played a quick return ball which enable the wide man to whip a shot into Trafford’s near post that he couldn’t reach. 

Wanderers have shown more often in recent weeks that they can adapt against opposition with different styles – and this was their biggest test yet.  

Evatt swapped John for Gethin Jones at half time in an effort to balance his side out a little better and Bolton also lost Kyle Dempsey to injury midway through a scrappy second half. 

Chances dried up for both sides, in truth, but Wycombe persisted with their policy of getting the ball wide and peppering he penalty box. It nearly paid off with 20 minutes to go as Vokes turned a shot into the side netting. 

The experienced Kieran Lee replaced Shoretire, who had been enduring a frustrating afternoon, but any quality in possession had dropped out of the game. They needed inspiration, or at least a moment of good fortune, and when a big penalty appeal was turned down with 15 minutes left on the clock, they seemed destined to get neither. 

Sub Cameron Jerome appeared to be bundled over as he tried to get on the end of Conor Bradley’s cross but referee Andy Woolmer waved away their frantic pleas.  

Moments later he had a good view of another shirt tug on the same player as he challenged for a corner but was unimpressed. 

Wanderers finally started to pick up the tempo a little. As a result, Morley had one shot deflected wide and Josh Sheehan tested Max Stryjek with another. 

As the seconds ticked down, so Bolton’s desperation increased. Randell Williams bombarded the box with his long throw and Santos came within inches of connecting with a Declan John corner. 

Elias Kachunga, another replacement, brought a full length save from keeper Stryjek with a spectacular overhead kick – but Jordan Willis was also denied at the other end as Wycombe countered and Trafford tipped his powerful shot over the bar.