Bolton Wanderers 1. AZ Alkmaar 3.
By Mark Heys August 12 2006
Dutch side AZ Alkmaar made sure that Bolton Wanderers recorded their worst pre-season run in over five years earlier today as they ran out 3-1 winners at the Reebok Stadium.
By Mark Heys August 12 2006
Dutch side AZ Alkmaar made sure that Bolton Wanderers recorded their worst pre-season run in over five years earlier today as they ran out 3-1 winners at the Reebok Stadium.
The Wanderers failed to claim a single victory throughout the close season and with the league opener against Tottenham Hotspur just seven days away there is cause for some slight concern.
Teenagers Johann Smith, Nathan Wolfe and Jarostaw Fojut where given another chance to impress at senior level as Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce once again counted the cost of a crippling injury list.
England U-21 defender Nicky Hunt made a welcome return to action after a short lay off but the absences of key players such as Kevin Davies, Abdoulaye Faye, Ricardo Gardner and Joey O'Brien are having a negative effect on the team.
Alkmaar had the first half chance of the game after the fifth minute as Martijn Meerdink's back header was comfortably gathered by Bolton's long serving goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
It took another twenty minutes for another clear cut chance to develop and this proved costly for the home side as former Rangers striker Shota Arveladze took advantage of a mistake by Jaaskelainen to fire the ball into the roof of the net.
USA youngster Smith brought Bolton back on level terms less than a minute later when planting a fine shot past Alkmaar's Croatian international stopper Joey Didulica for his first ever senior goal.
The 19-year old has put himself very much in the managers thinking for the coming season after a series of mature performances throughout the summer months and one feels that it won't be long before he is given a chance to make his mark in the first team proper.
Midfielder Stijn Schaars had hoped to restore the visitors advantage but his wayward shot from distance on the half hour mark did little to concern Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal.
At half time the Trotters changed things around as two players with England national connections made their way onto the field. Current England youth international Robert Sissons and former England senior international Ian Walker where brought on at the expense of Nathan Wolfe and Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Arveladze and Marten Maartens had early chances to trouble Bolton at the start of the second period but it was the previously mentioned Schaars who did the most damage when converting a dangerous cross from close range in the 53rd minute.
Both sides made a flurry of substitutions in an attempt to liven up the game as the second half started to pass by. The most notable of these changes was perhaps the introduction of Mexican striker Jared Borgetti who came on for what could be his final appearance in Bolton Wanderers colours.
Unfortunately the South American could do little to change the outcome of events as Wanderers had substitute keeper Walker to thank for making a hattrick of saves within the final twenty minutes.
The Dutch outfit finished the game off once and for all three minutes from the end as substitute Julian Jenner stooped to head home after Walker had parried the initial effort from Danny Koevermans.
Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Ian Walker), Nicky Hunt (Mark Charlesworth), Jarostaw Fojut, Kevin Nolan (Jared Borgetti), Abdoulaye Meite (Chris Basham), Gary Speed (Blazej Augustyn), Stelios Giannakopoulos, Ivan Campo, Johann Smith, El-Hadji Diouf, Nathan Wolfe (Robert Sissons).
Subs Not Used: Ali Al-Habsi
AZ Alkmaar: Joey Didulica, Tim de Cler, Kew Jaliens, Danny Koevermans, Gijs Luirink, Maarten Martens (Simon Cziommer), Joris Mathijsen, Martijn Meerdink (Julian Jenner), Stijn Schaars (Rogier Molhoek), Demy de Zeeuw (Joey Gudjonsson), Shota Arveladze.
Subs Not Used: Jeremain Lens, Barry Opdam, Khalid Sinouh, Gretar Steinsson
ATTENDANCE:
3,921
REFEREE:
Mark Halsey
Teenagers Johann Smith, Nathan Wolfe and Jarostaw Fojut where given another chance to impress at senior level as Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce once again counted the cost of a crippling injury list.
England U-21 defender Nicky Hunt made a welcome return to action after a short lay off but the absences of key players such as Kevin Davies, Abdoulaye Faye, Ricardo Gardner and Joey O'Brien are having a negative effect on the team.
Alkmaar had the first half chance of the game after the fifth minute as Martijn Meerdink's back header was comfortably gathered by Bolton's long serving goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
It took another twenty minutes for another clear cut chance to develop and this proved costly for the home side as former Rangers striker Shota Arveladze took advantage of a mistake by Jaaskelainen to fire the ball into the roof of the net.
USA youngster Smith brought Bolton back on level terms less than a minute later when planting a fine shot past Alkmaar's Croatian international stopper Joey Didulica for his first ever senior goal.
The 19-year old has put himself very much in the managers thinking for the coming season after a series of mature performances throughout the summer months and one feels that it won't be long before he is given a chance to make his mark in the first team proper.
Midfielder Stijn Schaars had hoped to restore the visitors advantage but his wayward shot from distance on the half hour mark did little to concern Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal.
At half time the Trotters changed things around as two players with England national connections made their way onto the field. Current England youth international Robert Sissons and former England senior international Ian Walker where brought on at the expense of Nathan Wolfe and Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Arveladze and Marten Maartens had early chances to trouble Bolton at the start of the second period but it was the previously mentioned Schaars who did the most damage when converting a dangerous cross from close range in the 53rd minute.
Both sides made a flurry of substitutions in an attempt to liven up the game as the second half started to pass by. The most notable of these changes was perhaps the introduction of Mexican striker Jared Borgetti who came on for what could be his final appearance in Bolton Wanderers colours.
Unfortunately the South American could do little to change the outcome of events as Wanderers had substitute keeper Walker to thank for making a hattrick of saves within the final twenty minutes.
The Dutch outfit finished the game off once and for all three minutes from the end as substitute Julian Jenner stooped to head home after Walker had parried the initial effort from Danny Koevermans.
Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Ian Walker), Nicky Hunt (Mark Charlesworth), Jarostaw Fojut, Kevin Nolan (Jared Borgetti), Abdoulaye Meite (Chris Basham), Gary Speed (Blazej Augustyn), Stelios Giannakopoulos, Ivan Campo, Johann Smith, El-Hadji Diouf, Nathan Wolfe (Robert Sissons).
Subs Not Used: Ali Al-Habsi
AZ Alkmaar: Joey Didulica, Tim de Cler, Kew Jaliens, Danny Koevermans, Gijs Luirink, Maarten Martens (Simon Cziommer), Joris Mathijsen, Martijn Meerdink (Julian Jenner), Stijn Schaars (Rogier Molhoek), Demy de Zeeuw (Joey Gudjonsson), Shota Arveladze.
Subs Not Used: Jeremain Lens, Barry Opdam, Khalid Sinouh, Gretar Steinsson
ATTENDANCE:
3,921
REFEREE:
Mark Halsey
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