BOLTON breezed past hapless Stockport to earn an FA Cup fourth round tie at Tottenham Hotspur.

Two goals in six minutes at the end of the first-half left County winded after they had matched the Premiership side for endeavour if not fluency.

Kevin Ellison gave some indication of why Carlton Palmer had brought him in from Leicester City, firing in a half-volley from 35 yards that had Finnish international keeper Jani Viander scurrying across his box.

Henrik Pedersen should have given Bolton the lead in the 25th minute, racing in under pressure to smash Jermaine Johnson's cross wide.

But County's 36-year-old keeper Andy Dibble was the real reason why the home side didn't go in at half-time four or five down.

A cross from Bo Hansen looked to have been buried by Pedersen's diving header, but Dibble's instinctive hand down to his left somehow turned the ball around the post.

Gudni's goal

Not that Dibble's joy was long-lasting - within a minute Gareth Farrelly had chipped a ball into the County area and Gudni Bergsson, taking a little time-out from his running battle with Ellison, was there to head home.

Hansen's clever through-ball to Farrelly should have been enough to earn Bolton a second, but transfer-listed Karim Fradin upended the midfielder on the edge of the box. Dibble pulled off another great stop to thrust Hansen's powerful free-kick over the bar.

And the veteran keeper earned his corn for a third time saving from Pedersen again with his feet.

Dibble's heroics made Bolton's second goal even more cruel. A David Norris's drive hit Fradin in the box and with the keeper stranded the ball looped into the net.

Palmer made three substitutions at half-time and one of the newcomers Chris Williams at least cheered the home crowd with a couple of mazy runs.

But it was no surprise when Bolton, who spent the second-half passing the ball about for fun, made it three in the 73rd minute, especially after the introduction of Michael Ricketts.

The Wanderers top scorer had only been on the pitch two minutes when he took Kevin Nolan's ball on the left and drove in a low cross for Pedersen to sidefoot home.

And Ricketts wasn't done. Five minutes from time he had Palmer turning on the edge of the area before curling a delightful left-footed shot high into Dibble's net with the keeper rooted to the spot.

County were granted a late consolation when referee Uriah Rennie harshly awarded a penalty against Nicky Southall after he handled Petri Helin's ball into the box following Kevin Nolan's miskick.

Jon Daly tucked the spot-kick into the corner of Viander's net for his first senior goal.