Walker sets a cracking pace


Bolton Wanderers 4 Exeter City 1.

Saturday 20 March 1993.

Referee:

Att: 6819

By Mike Conrad

BOLTON Wanderers bounced back with a vengeance after being a goal down to Exeter City at Burnden Park. Alan Ball's men gave the Wanderers a fourth minute shock when Steve Moran hit them into the lead. But Bolton hit back in the 24th minute when Andy Walker set up a point-blank chance for John McGinlay before Walker himself cracked in his 28th goal of the season. McGinlay grabbed a third five minutes after the interval before Tony Kelly made it four from a 57th minute free kick.

Bolton had started with a swift attack and Miller had to dash from his line to dive on the ball as Walker tried to fasten on to Patterson's pass. But Bolton were rocked when Exeter took the lead. A poor clearance by Burke was picked up by Minett who sent MORAN away to beat Branagan from a dozen yards out. Bolton tried to bounce back and a McAteer shot which was deflected by a defender was saved by Miller. Again Bolton went near when Pat- terson set up Lee who crashed in a shot from just inside the Exeter box. He beat Miller and hit the crossbar before going behind. The Wanderers were looking less than confident at the back and Sea- graves was forced to turn the ball behind for a corner when a Jepson pass split the defence open and sent Minett away to cross dangerously from the right. McAteer embarked on a run which took him past three defenders before he cracked in a hard, low shot from outside the penalty area which was saved at full stretch by Miller. Bolton's efforts paid off in the 24th minute when they equalised. A Patterson free kick was collected by Walker to the right of goal who turned his man before crossing for McGinlay to head home from point-blank range. Bolton's Brown was booked in the 27th minute for a foul on Moran. Five minutes later ace marksman WALKER gave the Wanderers the lead when a Kelly pass picked him out near the edge of the penalty area to the right of goal. He turned to fire in an angled drive which beat Miller all ends up for his 28th goal of the season. Bolton went further ahead in the 50th minute when a Walker flick sent MCGINLAY away to fire an angled. drive past Miller. McIntyre nearly pulled a goal back for Exeter when he broke through to the left of the Bolton goal and fired in a shot which was deflected. But it was Bolton's turn to go near again when Lee crossed from the right and McGinlay, scenting a hat-trick, chested the ball down only to fire over the top from 20 yards. A Walker chip was handled by Tonge five yards outside the Exeter penalty area. The player was booked and a free kick brought Bolton's fourth goal in the 57th minute with KELLY hitting the free kick past Miller.

Bolton: Branagan, P Brown, Burke, Lee, Seagraves, Stubbs, Kelly. McAteer, Walker, McGinlay, Patterson. Subs: Darby, Green.

Exeter City: Miller, Tonge, Redwood, Bailey, Daniels, J Brown, Minett, Mclntyre, Jepson, Moran, Hodge. Subs: Dolan, Harris.

Referee: Mr S J Lodge, Barnsley.