A first-half substitution for Ian Evatt’s Bolton Wanderers saw the Greater Manchester side pick up all three points against the Valiants at the Bolton University Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Victor Adeboyejo and Josh Sheehan, just nine minutes apart, canceled out Ellis Harrison’s ninth goal of the season, despite a strong performance from Darrell Clarke’s side.
After a bright start, the Valiants took a deserved early lead when Harrison caught the end of a low cross from Ben Garrity to drive home from close range.
10 minutes later, Bolton equalized through Adeboyejo, after he latched on at the end of a well-constructed corner routine to head the ball past Aidan Stone.
The white comeback in the first half was completed on the 27thhe minute when Sheehan shot from the edge of the box into the left corner of the net.
Harrison returned to the starting line-up for the first time since New Year’s Day as one of two changes since Tuesday’s match with Morecambe.
Vale hit the woodwork on three minutes when Ben Garrity’s header from a corner clipped the top of the crossbar.
Moments before the first goal, James Trafford parried Harrison from inside the box, after Matty Taylor, his strike partner, sent him on target.
The young goalkeeper then prevented Vale from finding an equalizer just before half-time with a terrific save that thwarted Garrity’s powerful shot from inside the box.
Chances were hard to come by in the second period but one fell to Matty Taylor with 12 minutes remaining, however Trafford was there once again to convert his post effort.
From the resulting corner change, Jamie Proctor was unable to keep his header on target after it found itself free in the box.
Five minutes later, our number 13 unleashed a piledriver from outside the box, but unfortunately, the shot missed the bar by inches.
Deep into stoppage time, Trafford produced another save to deny Vale an equalizer, dumping a deflected effort from Taylor over the bar.
The Bolton Wanderers | Trafford, Santos, Sheehan (69′ Lee), Morley, Shoretire (46′ Charles), Toal, Bradley, Dempsey (90+2′ Kachunga), Williams, Mbete (46′ Jones), Adeboyejo (63′ Nlundulu)
Unused Subs | John, Isgrove
Puerto Vale | Stone, Donnelly, Smith, Worrall (73′ Politic), Garrity, Ojo, Forrester, Massey (28′ Benning), Taylor, Harrison (63′ Proctor), Pett (73′ Butterworth)
Unused Subs | Stevens, Conlon, Agyakwa
Assistance | 19,857 (1,879 brave)