Bolton Wanderers duo Josh Sheehan and Lloyd Isgrove played just over an hour for the club's B team in the 1-0 win against Fleetwood Town's under-21s as the pair returned from long term injury absences.
The pair returned to action for Wanderers' B team this afternoon at Poolfoot Farm. Sheehan has been out of action since November due to a ruptured ACL, while Isgrove has been missing for a similar amount of time owing to hamstring problems.
And the pair were taken off following the hour mark after both returning and looked bright upon their returns to action. Isgrove in particular had a chance after the break which was denied by Fleetwood goalkeeper Tom Donaghy.
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Conor Carty found the back of the net in the closing stages to give Wanderers the advantage. It ensured Matt Craddock's side started their EFL Central League campaign with a victory.
Isgrove started at right wing-back, a position which boss Ian Evatt feels the winger has the ability to do well in. Sheehan meanwhile lined up in central midfield with George Thomason and Nelson Khumbeni.
Wanderers had their first opportunity before 20 minutes when Max Conway's good work in the box teed up Thomason. The midfielder's effort was blocked by the Cod Army rearguard.
Shortly after, Khumbeni's slide tackle was nearly latched onto by Carty, but Will Johnson was on hand to clear the danger. Danny Edwards had a good chance to put the hosts ahead on 35 minutes, but he sliced the effort on the right hand side of the box wide.
Will Russ went clear on the right and slotted the ball across goal for Max McMillan, but the effort went across the box and out for a goal kick in the 38th minute as the hosts squandered a great chance to go in front. The deadlock remained at the break.
Early in the second half, Isgrove slipped in Sheehan down the right, and the midfielder slotted across goal for Lockett who forced Tom Donaghy into action. At the other end not long after, Luke Hutchinson was called into action to deny Edwards.
Before the hour mark, Isgrove got in behind on the right and forced Donaghy into action, before Carty curled an effort over as the Whites went close to breaking the deadlock. Isgrove did well afterwards to get to the by-line and cross but no-one was in the right place to apply the finishing touch.
With more quarter of an hour left, Conway nearly got onto Donaghy's clearance. At the other end, Hutchinson made routine stops from Kyle White and Russ.
But Wanderers took a 77th minute lead when Carty latched on to Conway's ball into the box and buried clinically to give Wanderers the lead. Gerald Sithole cut back to Connor Stanley as Wanderers sought a second but Oliver Leggett put in a crucial block to deny a goalbound effort.
Matthew Tweedley almost added a sublim second from outside the box in stoppagee time but Donaghy tipped the effort over.
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