Bolton Wanderers secure Wembley spot after victory over Bradford City
Bolton have secured their spot at Wembley after winning 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate to triumph over Bradford, reports BritPanorama.
Goalkeeper Jack Bonham delivered two outstanding interventions when the tie hung in the balance at 1-0 on aggregate, and saw Xavier Simons get the crucial goal to send Wanderers to Wembley for the second time in three years.
Bolton had controlled much of the contest at Valley Parade, but had Bonham to thank for some crucial saves. His first moment of brilliance came when Max Power attempted to curl an effort towards the top corner, only for Bonham to push the ball onto the crossbar.
The goalkeeper then produced another vital stop to deny Nick Powell’s header, keeping Bradford at bay during a spell of sustained pressure from the home side. On minute 81, Aden Baldwin failed to bring a Thierry Gale cross under control, gifting possession to Xavier Simons in a dangerous area.
The Bolton forward made no mistake, beating Sam Walker with a composed finish to effectively end the contest. Kayden Jackson appeared to have drawn Bradford level just before when he nodded home following Powell’s saved header, but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.
The reprieve proved costly for the Bantams, who conceded just 68 seconds later through the defensive mishap. Bradford had struggled throughout the tie, with their poor delivery from set pieces compounding their difficulties, as Bolton’s defence dealt comfortably with their limited attacking threat.
Bolton will now turn their attention to a Greater Manchester derby at Wembley, where they will face Stockport with a place in the Championship at stake. Speaking after the game, Bonham told Sky Sports: “Today my team-mates love me, delighted to get the win because it was a horrible game, they just bombarded us with balls into the box.”
“They went for it in the end and we just had to weather it but we knew we’d probably get a chance on the break and Xav [Xavier Simons] got it for us.” The showpiece final could see the Trotters have the chance to secure promotion to English football’s second tier.
Stockport County secured their spot last night with a convincing 2-0 win against Stevenage at Edgeley Park. The League One play-off final is scheduled for May 24 at Wembley, promising another chapter in a fierce local rivalry that reminds fans just how vibrant the landscape of English football remains.
