Hard to believe that it is nearly ten years ago since that bitter sweet day at Wembley Stadium. All seemed lost for Bolton as Lee Nogan and Adrian Williams fired the Berkshire club 2-0 ahead with matters going from bad to worse when referee Mr Foakes awarded Reading a penalty following a foul by Wanderers skipper Alan Stubbs.
Then came the turning point.
Up stepped striker Stuart Lovell for a moment which will no doubt haunt him and the Reading fans for their rest of their lives. The Australian hit the ball hard and low towards Keith Branagan's bottom right hand corner only for the Bolton keeper to parry the ball away.
With fifteen minutes remaining Owen Coyle pulled a goal back for Bolton with a header at the far post and half time substitute Fabian De Freitas, who was so impressive in the Semi Final second leg against Wolves, sent the Lancashire side into extra time scoring a goal past the otherwise excellent Shaka Hislop with just three minutes to go of full time.
Further goals including a header from Mixu Paatelainen and another from De Freitas at the second attempt sent Bruce Rioch's Bolton team into the Premiership for the first time. A volley by Reading's joint Player/Manager Jimmy Quinn proved to be just a mere consolation.
Last season's local derby away to Blackburn Rovers came in the runner up slot as Bolton came back from 3-0 down to win 4-3. The 5-2 Carling Cup semi final demolition of Aston Villa came in joint third place as did Bolton's 2-1 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford three years ago.
| Which Is Your Favourite Ever Bolton Match? | ||
| Bolton 4 Reading 3 (1995) | 22.7% | |
| Blackburn 3 Bolton 4 (2004) | 16.0% | |
| Man United 1 Bolton 2 (2001) | 14.7% | |
| Bolton 5 Aston Villa 2 (2004) | 14.7% | |
| Liverpool 0 Bolton 2 (1993) | 9.3% | |
| Man United 0 Bolton 1 (2002) | 6.7% | |
| Bolton 6 Tottenham 1 (1996) | 6.7% | |
| Bolton 2 Middlesbro 0 (2003) | 4.0% | |
| Arsenal 1 Bolton 3 (1994) | 1.3% | |
| Bolton 4 Torquay 1 (1989) | 1.3% | |
| Bolton 2 Man United 0 (1958) | 1.3% | |
| Wrexham 0 Bolton 1 (1988) | 1.3% | |