Bolton Wanderers 2 Preston North End 2 (Bolton Win 5-4 On Penalties)

Last updated : 17 August 2004 By Mark Heys
Bolton Wanderers booked their place in the next round of the Lancashire Cup after defeating Preston North End in a penalty shootout at the County Ground in Leyland.

The initial 90 minutes had ended in a 2-2 draw with referee Mr Evans signaling a penalty shoot-out to decide the contest and it was the home side who proved to be the victors winning 5-4 in the shoot-out.

Bolton had included three times Champions League winner Fernando Hierro in their squad as well as experienced quartet Kevin Poole, Anthony Barness, Les Ferdinand and Michael Bridges whilst Lillywhites coach Billy Davies was able to call upon the services of former Wanderers duo Gavin Ward and Paul Warhurst, the latter of whom was made captain for the night.

Ward pulled off a number of fine saves to deny his former employers most notably from Ricardo Vaz-Te and young French midfielder Reda Kribib but the deadlock was finally broken on 26 minutes when Ricky Shakes started and finished a fine move which included participation from Kribib and Bridges in the build up.

Preston fought their way back into the contest immediately upon the commencement the second half when Irish striker Kevin Langmead headed past Poole to make the scores level. North End had a quiet first half but where certainly coming out all guns blazing for the second period.

French striker Eric Skora went close with a fine free kick soon after following a late challenge by Hierro but it was just to be a warning sign for Wanderers who were seeing the control of the game slip from their path.

Lively striker Langmead added a second on 57 minutes with a similar goal to his first to give the away side a 2-1 lead following some good build up by Warhurst and Callum Davidson.

With just over 20 minutes remaining Bolton threw caution to the wind bringing on teenagers James Sinclair, Bedi Buval and Dale Whitehead in place of experienced trio Ferdinand, Bridges and Hierro and this was to spring the Trotters back into life.

On 72 minutes Ricardo Vaz-Te equalised for the Wanderers after a neat pass from substitute Buval caught the Preston defence out with not even the advancing Ward able to stop the Portuguese striker in his tracks.

The penalty shoot out saw Bolton score all but one of their six penalties with Republic of Ireland U18 international Joey O'Brien the unlucky player to miss from the spot. The deciding penalty was scored by substitute Whitehead after North End had missed through Ciaran Lyng.

BOLTON: Kevin Poole, Ricky Shakes, Jason Talbot, Danny Stott, Anthony Barness, Fernando Hierro (Dale Whitehead), Joey O'Brien, Reda Kribib, Les Ferdinand (Bedi Buval), Michael Bridges (James Sinclair), Ricardo Vaz Te

SUBS NOT USED: Chris Howarth (GK), Rhys Powell

PRESTON: Gavin Ward, Ciaran Lyng, Callum Davidson (David Proctor), Paul Warhurst, David Elbert, Omar Daley, Eric Skora, Simon Lynch, Kevin Langmead, Alan McCormack (Warren Beattie), Michael Brown (Mark Jackson)

SUBS NOT USED: Chris Neal (GK), Richard Baker

ATTENDANCE: 297
REFEREE: Mr K Evans