Bolton Wanderers Res 1. Middlesbrough Res 3.

Smith Saw Red
By Mark Heys
November 28 2007

A contraversial sending off involving American winger Johann Smith meant that Bolton Wanderers reserve side crashed to a 3-1 reverse against Middlesbrough at the County Ground earlier on this evening.

Smith, recently back from a loan spell with Darlington, was shown a second yellow card for diving by the referee despite appearing to lose his footing on the turf.

By the time the youngster had been given his marching orders Bolton where already 2-0 down as Boro got their noses in front through striker Benjamin Hutchinson and Seb Hines.

Hutchinson made a cameo appearance against the Wanderers first team a couple of weeks ago and he took just eight minutes to put the visitors in front when finishing off a well rehearsed set piece off a corner.

German youth international Kevin Wolze rattled the crossbar of Boro keeper Matthew Atkinson with a free kick and the young custodian had to be alert soonafter to deny Nathan Wolfe from netting the Trotters equaliser.

Hines doubled Middlesbrough's advantage in the 38th minute when midfielder Graeme Owens crossed the ball in for him to beat Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan from close range.

Smith then saw red for Jimmy Phillips side and despite Boro's numerical advantage Bolton held strong until later on in the half when substitutes Stephen Thompson and Jonathan Franks combined, with the latter scoring the winner with his first touch.

England youth international Temitope Obadeyi came off the bench to pull a goal back for Bolton in the 87th minute but the Wanderers second string's recent hard work has been undone by a spot of debatable officiating.

Wanderers now face two local derbies prior to the Christmas shut down, at home to Blackburn Rovers next Tuesday and away to Manchester City on 11th December.

BOLTON WANDERERS RESERVES: Adam Bogdan, James Sinclair, Scott Jamieson, Chris Basham, Mark Charlesworth, Jlloyd Samuel (Leslie Thompson), Nathan Wolfe (Tom Brooks), Robert Sissons, Zoltan Harsanyi (Temitope Obadeyi), Kevin Wolze, Johann Smith

SUBS NOT USED: Matthew Cassidy, Przemyslaw Kazimierzczak

MIDDLESBROUGH RESERVES: Matthew Atkinson, Josh Walker, Joe Bennett, Mohammed Shawky, Robert Huth, Seb Hines, Herald Goulon (Jonathan Franks), Graeme Owens, Benjamin Hutchinson (Stephen Thompson), Julio Arca (Nathan Porritt), Ashley Corker

SUBS NOT USED: Richard Smallwood, Lewis McArdle,