Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Morecambe
Sky Bet League One
University of Bolton Stadium
Tuesday 8 March
Kick-Off: 8:00pm
Attendance: 14,559 (885 Shrimps)
The Shrimps have to settle for a point after Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s last-grasp strike cancelled out Cole Stockton’s first-half opener.
Stockton netted his 19th goal of the Sky Bet League One campaign after a mistake in the Bolton back-line presented the ball to Adam Phillips, who squared it to Stockton to tap into an empty net.
It was the late, late show again as Bodvarsson netted in the final seconds of injury time as the Shrimps failed to clear a corner.
The first chance of the half fell to Derek Adams’ men as Dylan Connolly broke free off the Trotters’ back-line, but the Irishman could not beat James Trafford with his low effort.
Bolton had the best chance to open the scoring on the seventh minute, as a lovely bit of passing saw Declan John lay the ball back to Dion Charles, but the former Accrington Stanley man hit his left-footed effort over the bar.
It was Charles again who came close on the 19th minute, a ball through from Amadou Bakayoko was latched upon by Charles before letting fly from just inside the penalty area, thankfully for the Shrimps, his effort cannoned off the crossbar and away from danger.
Ian Evatt’s side continued to stamp their authority on proceedings, this time a ball from John into the area was prodded goal-wards by Bakayoko, again it was wide of the mark.
Four minutes before the break, the game turned on its head.
A back-pass from George Johnston was too short for Trafford which allowed Phillips to nick the ball off the ‘keepers toes and into the path of Stockton, who had the goal at his mercy to tap the Shrimps into the lead.
Half-time: Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Morecambe
Four minutes into the second-half and the Shrimps really should have had a penalty.
Connolly’s ball into the box was over-hit, but in the process of getting the ball into the area, he was wiped out by Ricardo Santos, but referee Christopher Sarginson was unmoved.
The hosts continued their assault on Trevor Carson’s goal, but the Shrimps back-line held firm, with Bedeau and O’Connor putting their bodies on the line to great effect.
With 12 minutes left of the proceedings, Bolton skipper Ricardo Santos had a great chance to bring the home side level, but the centre-back could not find the net with a close range header.
With seconds of the game remaining, the Trotters stole a point.
A corner was half-cleared and somehow made its way to Bodvarsson who slotted his effort past Carson.
Full-time: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Morecambe
Bolton Wanderers: Trafford, John, Williams (Sadlier 67’), Santos (C), Johnston, Charles, Bakayoko (Bodvarsson 72’), Fossey, Aimson, Morley, Afolayan (Amaechi 83’).
Subs not used: Dixon, Thomason, Baptiste, Gordon.
Goals: Bodvarsson 90+4’
Bookings: None.
Red cards: None.
Morecambe: Carson, O’Connor (C), Bedeau, Diagouraga, Stockton, Wildig (Fane 13’), Connolly, Phillips, McLoughlin, Gibson (Leigh 46’), Bennett (Cooney 65’).
Subs not used: Smith, Leigh, Obika, Ayunga, Cooney, McCalmont.
Goals: Stockton 41’
Bookings: Gibson 35’, Connolly 73’
Red cards: None.