On top for the vast majority of the game and leading up to Conor Bradley’s first league goal, suspended manager Ian Evatt should have been able to sit back and enjoy the second-half show. But as his side missed a few good chances, the Bolton boss may have been looking more anxiously at the clock in the corner in the closing stages than he would have expected at half-time. Wanderers defended well what little Morecambe mustered, especially Will Aimson as he replaced Ricardo Santos, but the comfort of a second goal unfortunately never came. The first half looked to be going along similar lines to the last meeting between these two teams, where Morecambe camped out in penalties and Wanderers tried in vain to find a way to goal. Bolton fans could see what was unfolding. And while there were a few murmurs of frustration as the forwards broke 18 yards, the ball was recycled all the way to James Trafford, the UniBol crowd growing wiser to the Wanderers game. Morecambe actually started with a few glimmers of ambition as the pace of Whites old boy Arthur Gnahoua proved useful and the visitors exploited the same spaces that Salford did in the Carabao Cup. Fortunately, gaps were filled quicker and more effectively, and Bolton’s dominance of possession could then begin. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, making his first league start of the season, had the first shot on target with a powerful header from Aaron Morley’s corner. Bolton have worked harder this season at set pieces and it’s starting to show. Morley’s performance was generally good, but the desire to be on the receiving end of crosses and the positioning of attacking players seems to be much more organized than in the past. Missing their captain and manager through suspension following red cards at Port Vale, Bolton fans may have wondered if it was their side’s turn to play against 10 men when Max Melbourne thundered over a challenge with Kieran Lee dead ahead on boats. Despite the crowd calling for heavy punishment, referee Anthony Backhaus was lenient, giving only a yellow card. The wanderers continued to politely knock on the door. Gethin Jones shot wide from distance, Kyle Dempsey and Kieran Lee missed shooting opportunities as a tactical queue appeared to form in the Morecambe box. Then, finally, thankfully, the seal was broken. Declan John, Dempsey and Lee worked the ball into the square on the left before Bodvarsson fed it to Bradley to fire past his namesake Ripley. Relief everywhere at UniBol. And a great curl behind the Liverpool youngster as he looked up at the scattering of traveling supporters and put a finger to his lips, just as a certain Amadou Bakayoko had done that stormy afternoon on the coast last season. For all their dominance, the lead was still slim. Elias Kachunga came within inches of turning in a superb cross from Bradley, but at the other end, it was a frustrating moment as another former Bolton man, Ryan Delaney, headed wide from Ash Hunter’s cross. . For all their desire to grab a second, Evatt’s side had to be careful not to commit too many men up front and get caught on the break. A timely challenge from Aimson on Jacob Bedeau prevented just that at a stage in the game where Morecambe briefly emerged from their defensive coma. Bradley continued to wreak havoc every time he nicked the ball and chased away his opponents. Kachunga almost capitalized on another good ball into the box and both Dempsey and Morley had shots blocked on the edge of the area. Despite their negative football, Morecambe are nothing if not brave at the back. Evatt replenished his front line with Bakayoko and Dapo Afolayan – then swapped MJ Williams for Lee, to add an extra bit of insurance that the game would become very ‘transitional’ in the final 10 minutes. Bakayoko could have sorted it all out. A fine pass from Williams found an ever-eager runner in Dempsey on the left and his cross fell perfectly for the former Coventry City man, whose effort bounced off the turf and wide. Eamson made another fine defensive interception after Hunter tried to clear a ball for Dylan Connolly – providing another reminder of how slim the lead still was. Suddenly Bolton fell deep. Williams’ hasty challenge resulted in a 35-yard free-kick and a chance for Morecambe to load the box, and when Hunter’s free-kick landed on the head of Farrend Rawson, the entire stadium held its breath. Fortunately, the ball ended up in Trafford’s hands. The finale had no right to be edgy. Another Hunter corner was lifted over the bar by Liam Gibson in the final minute, the bulk of which was then eaten up by a delicious tackle by the Trafford keeper.
