Middlesbrough Reserves 1 Bolton Wanderers Reserves 3

Last updated : 02 November 2004 By Mark Heys
Bolton Wanderers reserves kept up their fine recent run of form with an excellent 3-1 victory against Middlesbrough at Central Avenue this evening.

Portuguese youngster Ricardo Vaz-Te was once again the goalscoring hero as he added two more goals to his tally for the season in a performance which will no doubt have him back in first team contention before too long.

The Wanderers had named a far more experienced line up than Boro and this often showed on a number of occasions throughout the night. The first real chance of the game saw Middlesbrough's David Wheater clear off the line on 17 minutes following a shot from Bolton midfielder Blessing Kaku.

Frenchman Kribib gave Bolton the lead on 23 minutes when he lobbed goalkeeper Brad Jones from a good 40-yards out. Jones had earlier saved well from the experienced Wanderers striker Les Ferdinand.

Boro forced their way back into the reckoning when young striker Danny Graham equalised on 34 minutes following a neat run and finish from seven yards out.

Vaz-Te restored Bolton's advantage just two minutes later when he produced a fine overhead scissor kick which sailed past Jones after excellent work from Irish midfielder Joey O'Brien down the right hand side.

On 65 minutes the 18-year old striker netted his second of the game and Bolton's winning goal. O'Brien had been felled in the area by Boro's Andrew Davies and Vaz-Te stepped up confidently to despatch the resulting spot kick.

It could have got worse for Boro but Bolton pair Ricky Shakes and Kaku both spurned late chances.

Vaz-Te has now scored six goals in three games as the reserves win three in a row and remain unbeaten since their defeat to the hands of Manchester United in September.

BOLTON RESERVES: Andy Oakes, Ricky Shakes, Anthony Barness, Tal Ben-Haim, Julio Cesar, Dale Whitehead, Blessing Kaku, Joey O'Brien, Les Ferdinand, Ricardo Vaz Te (Rhys Powell), Reda Kribib.

SUBS NOT USED: Sam Ashton, Charlie Comyn Platt, Danny Livesey, Jason Talbot.

BORO RESERVES: Brad Jones, Andrew Davies, Jonathan Grounds, Kevin Burgess, David Wheater, Jason Kennedy, Danny Reed, Mark Wilson, Tom Craddock (Graeme Owens), Danny Graham, Anthony Peacock.

SUBS NOT USED: David Knight, Adam Clough.