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Bolton Wanderers

Bury 2 Bolton 1

SAM ALLARDYCE refused to comment last night after his UEFA Cup hopefuls had been humbled by their League Two neighbours.

So the background of Wanderers' second-half scorer remains shrouded in mystery.

Leslie Thompson's superbly-struck free-kick certainly delighted Manchester United's South African international Quentin Fortune and his watching party.

A second-half substitute, Thompson, said to be a South London-born first-year academy prospect, was then surprisingly taken off before the end of the game.

Fortune himself has, in the past, been linked with a move to the Reebok.

Allardyce would have expected more from his highly-paid squad of continental assortments. He paid Bury the compliment of fielding his strongest side in the opening 45 minutes, and then made 10 changes at the break.

He will definitely be looking for an improvement tonight when Wanderers entertain Spaniards Real Mallorca.

As for opposite number Graham Barrow, he was delighted at claiming the scalp of last season's Premiership over-achievers.

And while last night's win may be facile in the wider picture, it was still celebrated with gusto by the Shakers' supporters.

For them, it evoked memories of the famous 2002 League Cup upset at the Reebok Stadium. Tom Kennedy's 27th-minute penalty after Radhi Jaidi handled a cross from Dwayne Mattis separated the teams at half-time.

El Hadji Diouf doesn't have many supporters outside Bolton. And he incurred the wrath of Shakers fans during his time on the field.

Many a player has felt the weight of a Dave Flitcroft tackle. And one crunching effort left the Senegalese international pointing an accusing finger at his assailant.

John Hardiker was also spoken to by referee Lee Mason and told to cut out the rough stuff.

Bury's veteran keeper Neil Edwards kept the Shakers in front at the interval with fine saves from Kevin Davies and Kevin Nolan.

And the former Stockport and Rochdale goalie continued to impress with further stops from Thompson, twice, and Portuguese Under-20s starlet Ricardo Vaz Te in the second period.

Edwards's eye-catching display impressed John Ward, watching from the press seats, though the Cheltenham manager had long gone when Jake Speight, a trialist from Sheffield United, headed the winner from Kennedy's cross.

"It will be a totally different game at Cheltenham on Saturday," said Barrow. "But we showed the spectators there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"It was good to see Allan Smart in action after his knee problem. Hopefully there will be no reaction, and he and Tom Youngs will be available for the weekend."

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Bury allways do well against us. I hope they have a good season , and gain promotion. Players like Mc Ginlay, Lee, and Paterson, all former Shakers who later become Bolton heroes. If Bury have any more gems, like a fullback could they give Sam a phone .

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I was a great night. The Bolton players thought they could just turn up and take the win. Diouf was his usual diving, moaning self, trying to showboat and being embarrased by our tin-pot League 2 side. For a Bury fan of 25 years, i felt no greater plaesure then doing BoltonB4s trademark "easy, Easy" chant (from Soccer AM) back at them after our group of newly signed youth and elders put them back in their place. Awesome.

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