Three Dean Holdsworth headers helped send Bolton into the fifth round of the
FA Cup with a comfortable 5-1 win over Scunthorpe.
Holdsworth, the man whose glaring miss cost Wanderers victory over Aston Villa
in last season's semi-final, put on a clinical display as the Third Division's
last remaining representatives were eliminated.
Brian Laws' men gave a good account of themselves nonetheless, keeping the
First Division's second placed side at bay for the best part of the first
half-hour.
But in front of a sparse Sunday lunchtime crowd at the Reebok Stadium the
defensive frailties that have seen The Iron without a win away from home since
October reared and the dreams of a first FA Cup fifth round appearance for 31
years were extinguished.
Holdsworth's treble - which took his season's tally to nine - must have
delighted boss Sam Allardyce who had decided to give the 32-year-old former
Wimbledon man a starting berth, leaving leading scorer Michael Ricketts on the
bench.
United, who had thrillingly knocked out First Division Burnley in midweek, had
begun the match in far livelier fashion than their opponents.
Indeed the visitors seemed to relish the space they were given on the wide
Bolton pitch, with their leading marksman, Guy Ipoua, forcing a decent save out
of Steve Banks and Peter Morrison marginally ruled offside when through after 11
minutes.
But after an opening 25 minutes that could most generously be described as
uneventful, the match burst into life with three goals inside five minutes.
After 27 minutes, Nicky Summerbee, a recent capture from Sunderland, delivered
a superb curling ball from the right for Holdsworth to claim his first.
Two minutes later, the same combination doubled Wanderers' lead, Summerbee
this time supplying a corner from the left for an unmarked Holdsworth to head
past Tim Evans.
Scunthorpe returned fire immediately - and deservedly as Bolton were scarcely
worth their two-goal advantage - although they did their best to squander the
chance.
With Lee Hodges' shot blocked by Banks, Ipoua miscued with the goal at his
mercy, but fortunately for him Alex Calvo Garcia was on hand to convert the
simplest of tap ins.
Two minutes into the second half Bolton looked to have settled the tie with
Holdsworth completing his hat trick.
This time the supplier was Anthony Barness, who from the right flank delivered
the ball straight to Holdsworth, whose downward header squeezed underneath
Evans.
Soon after Holdsworth departed to a standing ovation, with Michael Ricketts
coming on, but the change made no difference as Bolton instantly added a
fourth.
Bo Hansen, driving through the centre of United's midfield, fed the ball
through to Kevin Nolan who slotted past Evans.
And then after 72 minutes Wanderers completed the rout with Gareth Farrelly's
delicious back heel enabling Nolan to fire his second - and Bolton's fifth -
past Evans.
Teams:
Bolton: Banks, Warhurst, Elliott, Frandsen,
Hansen (Wheatcroft 74), Holdsworth (Ricketts 50), Farrelly,
Nolan, Barness, Marshall (Charlton 58), Summerbee.
Subs Not Used: Richardson, Passi.
Booked: Frandsen.
Goals: Holdsworth 27, 28, 47, Nolan 51, 74.
Scunthorpe: Evans, Dawson, Stanton, Jackson,
Larusson (Harsley 69), Hodges, Ipoua (Stamp 40), Calvo-Garcia,
Sheldon (Graves 63), Wilcox, Morrison.
Subs Not Used: Thom, Sparrow.
Booked: Calvo-Garcia.
Goals: Calvo-Garcia 30.
Att: 11,737.
Ref: M Messias (York).
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