Wanderers wrapped up their preparations for the new League One season with a thrilling 4-3 win against Championship outfit West Brom at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Kyle Dempsey bagged a brace for the Whites, with Will Forrester and Aaron Morley also getting on the scoresheet.
Ian Evatt made three changes from the side that held Premier League Everton to a goalless draw in midweek.
Zac Ashworth came into the starting line-up against his parent club in place of Jack Iredale, who missed out with a knock. George Thomason and Dan Nlundulu were also brought in, with Morley and Victor Adeboyejo dropping to the bench.
The visitors started brightly and had the ball in the net inside the opening 10 minutes when Okay Yokuslu tapped home from close range after Wanderers had failed to deal with a corner, but the goal was chalked off for an offside.
The Baggies did manage to open the scoring moments later when Jed Wallace latched onto Darnell Furlong’s drilled pass and kept his cool to slot past Nathan Baxter in the Bolton goal.
Baxter then made a double save to keep out Matt Phillips’ drive low to his left and then keeping hold of a tamer effort from Brandon Thomas-Asante as West Brom continued to apply pressure in the final third.
The goalkeeper also made a decent stop to beat away Wallace’s strike from distance before Dion Charles sent a first-time effort over the bar at the other end.
Wanderers got stronger as the first half went on, as they did against Everton several days ago.
Charles and Dan Nlundulu’s pressing from the front caused the visitors a few problems, although they remained committed to building from the back.
Furlong sent a wild effort over the bar after some decent hold-up play from Thomas-Asante on the edge of the box.
Ashworth was then booked for hauling back Wallace after the Whites had been undone by a long ball over the top by Josh Griffiths. The versatile defender might have been in trouble had it not been a friendly.
Evatt’s men got back on level terms on the stroke of half time when Dempsey cut onto his right foot and found the top corner with a superb strike from the edge of the box. Griffiths was rooted to the spot.
Tempers flared early in the second half after Yokuslu caught Josh Sheehan while the midfielder was on the ground. Both players were booked along with Nlundulu.
West Brom regained the lead around the hour mark when Furlong played in Wallace on the right with a pinpoint pass. He squared it for Thomas-Asante, who provided a simple finish from close range after making an intelligent run.
But Wanderers came up with an immediate response, and it was Dempsey again. The midfielder received the ball from Josh Dacres-Cogley in a dangerous position and beat Griffiths with a low drive across goal.
Forrester then made an immediate impact after coming off the bench. The visitors backed off and allowed him to bring the ball into the box before finding the bottom corner with a finish any defender would be proud of.
But West Brom hit back through Thomas-Asante’s second of the afternoon after the attacker pounced on a sloppy pass by Baxter and slotted into the empty net. It was a soft goal from a Bolton perspective after going in front.
Morley, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Adeboyejo, Cameron Jerome and Kieran Sadlier also joined the fray during the second half.
Griffiths made a fine stop to keep out Adeboyejo’s thumping effort from around 30 yards, before Forrester made a good block to deny Thomas-Asante his hat trick 10 minutes from time.
B Team prospect Max Conway also got a run out off the bench, having impressed during a couple of appearances earlier in pre-season.
Taylor Gardner-went close during the final stages with a well-struck effort that sailed just wide of the post.
But Morley won it at the death, beating Griffiths with a fine strike from the edge of the box after a clever backheel by Mendes Gomes.
Evatt's men will now head into their curtain raiser against Lincoln next weekend full of confidence.
Baxter, Jones (Sadlier 73), Santos, Ashworth (Forrester 62), Dacres-Cogley, Sheehan (Morley 62), Thomason, Williams (Conway 83), Dempsey (Mendes Gomes 62), Nlundulu (Adeboyejo 67), Charles (Jerome 67). Unused: Coleman.
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