A pre-season pick-me-up? The first silverware of the season? An unsurprisingly comfortable win against non-league opponents? However you choose to spin it, Bolton fans went home happier than they arrived at Chorley.

It has been a tough summer in many respects for Wanderers – a lengthy list of injuries adding to the frustrations of a slow transfer market, all in the aftermath of ‘that’ result at Wembley.

Something had to put a smile on people’s faces eventually, so why not a 4-0 win against neighbours Chorley, which earned the Harold Taylor Memorial Trophy.

Two penalties converted by Aaron Morley and Victor Adeboyejo either side of an own goal and a fine finish from Nelson Khumbeni certainly made for pleasant viewing on a summer’s evening.

Wanderers were able to bring Jack Iredale into the squad for the first time in pre-season but midfielder Josh Sheehan was not named on the team-sheet. The significance of the Welshman’s absence was played down before the game, but such has been Bolton’s summer, any news seems to be bad news.

One thing working in their favour was the playing surface. A few years ago Ian Evatt was none-too-pleased by the state of the pitch at Victory Park, describing the length of the grass as “Amazonian” after a scrappy match. Mercifully, Chorley have since invested in a brand new playing surface conducive to passing football, and the two teams were able to move the ball around at furious pace in the opening exchanges.

Wanderers drew first blood after only three minutes. A corner had been won thanks to some quick thinking from Joel Coleman, whose bullet-like throw found Klaidi Lolos racing down the right channel, his cross eventually blocked.

The corner found Will Forrester at the far post and when he headed back into the six yard box the ball bounced up off a Chorley hand, leaving referee Mike Crusham a simple decision to point to the penalty spot.

Aaron Morley sent Matt Urwin the wrong way from the spot, a nice confidence boost on a night where his start alongside Scott Arfield in midfield would be given even more scrutiny in Sheehan’s absence.

Perhaps eager to catch the eye, Morley rattled into challenges early on and seemed to demand the ball at every turn. If Evatt continues with 5-2-3 into the new season there will be one less central spot to contest, and the former Rochdale man looked like he wanted to lay down a marker.

Bolton’s front three had changed its focal point from Saturday’s first half against Middlesbrough, Dan Nlundulu replacing Victor Adeboyejo. The link-up play was not quite as smooth, in truth, with the main danger coming from wing-backs, Luke Matheson and Max Conway.

Wigan Athletic had been held to a goalless draw by Andy Preece’s National League North side last week, and this was their seventh pre-season outing. As such, they looked sharp, Kole Hall driving one decent effort narrowly wide of Coleman’s left-hand post soon after they had gone behind.

Wanderers kept the ball for long spells but did at least try to keep the tempo up, never threatening to provoke that dull groan which sometimes accompanies their most pedestrian spells at home.

Collins struck one first-time effort over the bar, Will Forrester another wide from distance and Morley scuffed another 25-yarder after spotting Unwin had ventured a couple of yards off his line.

All fairly encouraging stuff as the half time interval approached. Conway got into a couple of good positions where a better final ball or a more confident finish might have resulted in a second goal but the 20-year-old had also been his side’s chief outlet, which was some responsibility.

First teamers who were not involved in the squad supported from the stands, including Gethin Jones, Dion Charles and Kyle Dempsey – and an old friend dropped by too, in the shape of Burnley keeper James Trafford.

Evatt is likely to have more options for Friday night’s friendly against Fiorentina but he will have been reasonably happy with what he saw over the first 45 minutes even though the home side had a little spell of pressure right on the interval, one long throw almost bringing an equaliser before Coleman made a good save on his line.

There were four changes at the break – Coleman, Johnston, Nlundulu, Forrester, Matheson, Arfield and Morley given another 15 minutes before they too were replaced. But by that point Wanderers were three goals ahead and sitting pretty.

Almost immediately after the restart Arfield drifted in a corner from the right which bounced off a defender and past Unwin into the net.

There was nothing fortuitous about the third goal moments later, ex-Leeds United striker Andreucci did well on the left, cutting a ball back for Nelson Khumbeni for a crisp finish into the bottom corner.

The depth of Middlesbrough’s Championship squad meant that Bolton’s late changes at Bishop Auckland at the weekend were highlighted rather ruthlessly but here, against opposition three divisions below, it worked the other way around.

To their credit, Bolton kept the tempo high even once their full team had been replaced. Andreucci, Khumbeni and Trevon Bryan showed some good touches, Noah Halford looked comfortable on the right side of the back three, and Iredale’s appearance off the bench meant the welcome return of those pin-point searching passes.

A fourth goal arrived on the 70th minute, Bryan raiding into the penalty box on the left and drawing an untidy challenge which sent him sprawling.

Victor Adeboyejo took responsibility from the spot, confidently placing the ball into the back of the net to a loud cheer, the majority of the 2,455 supporters Boltonians now rather enjoying their night.

Even Evatt had time for a bit of fun and games on the touchline, playfully running over to splash the opposite dugout and the fourth official after the pitch sprinklers had suddenly switched on with 10 minutes to go.

The result remains as inconsequential as the one against Middlesbrough but there is no doubt folk will feel better for seeing Bolton enjoy themselves again. A few moods could still do with lifting and if Evatt can find a couple of signings soon, it might make all the difference.

Wanderers first half: (5-2-3): Coleman; Matheson, Forrester, Santos, Johnston, Conway; Arfield, Morley; Lolos, Nlundulu, Collins.

Wanderers after 60 mins: Baxter; Dacres-Cogley, Halford, Toal, Iredale, Bryan; Thomason, Sharples-Ahmed; Khumbeni, Adeboyejo, Andreucci.

Referee: Mike Crusham.

Attendance: 2,455.