Screamer from Tanto is enough for Hatters

By Wes Hamilton

BOLTON W 0

BOLTON: Baxter 7, Dacres-Cogley 6 (Schon 87), Forino 8, Toal 7 (Forrester 79, 6), Osei-Tutu 7, Morley 7 (Matete 70, 6), Sheehan 7, Thomason 7, Randall 6 (Lolos 78, 6), Collins 6, McAtee 6 (Gomes 69, 6). Subs not used: Southwood, Jones.

STOCKPORT CO 1

Olaofe 72

STOCKPORT: Addai 7, Knoyle 7 (Connolly 45, 7), Hills 7, Pye 7, Rydel 7 (Touray 45, 7), Bate 7, Norwood 7 (Moxon 67, 6), Collar 7, Camps 6 (Fevrier 66, 6), Andresson 6 (Wootton 45, 7), Olaofe 7. Subs not used: Metcalfe, Cosgrove.

Att: 24,571 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Ben Toner 6/10

TANTO Olaofe proved there are goals for Stockport after Louie Barry as the striker’s stunning solo effort saw the Hatters steal a march on play-off rivals Bolton.

Delighted Hatters boss Dave Challinor hailed Olaofe’s Barry-like goal that earned them a League double and first win at Bolton since 1999.

Barry remains Stockport’s top scorer even though he was recalled by Aston Villa in January and then loaned out to Hull City.

“That’s like a Louie Barry goal for us,” said Challinor of Olaofe’s 72nd-minute winner.

“Louie would find himself in those slots and suddenly the ball would drop and he would be away. Tantohasreal pace and the big plus for me was that composure to come inside and finish it well.

“You know in transition he will cause teams problems. It only takes one of those moments to get that chance and fortunately he took it.”

Wanderers, thrashed 5-0earlier in the season, sensed little danger when Olaofe collected the ball on the left wing.

The striker turned away from Eoin Toal before racing into the area and firing past Nathan Baxter for his tenth goal of the season.

Until the goal, Baxter, omitted from Bolton’s previous 12 League games, celebrated his recall with superb saves from Benony Andresson, Kyle Wootton and Jayden Fevrier.

Wanderers rallied late on but Josh Sheehan and top scorer Aaron Collins were denied by Corey Addai.

Bolton will also look back on a late first-half incident as a potential game-changer.

Defender Kyle Knoyle had already been booked and committed several other fouls when he brought down John McAtee.

Referee Ben Toner opted not to give another caution but Knoyle was replaced at half-time by the visitors. Challinor added: “I don’t think the second one was a yellow card but once you have been booked and make a couple of other fouls you are on the brink.

“I have not seen it back but if you are telling me we got a favourable refereeing decision then I am delighted.”

Bolton’s defeat was their second in five days but manager Steven Schumacher remained optimistic.

“There is no panic,” he insisted. “We have come out of two tight games with no points when arguably we could have taken something from both games.”