Latics succumb to Bolton

DANNY PHILLISKIRK: Tested the Bolton 'keeper with a second-half shot.

ATHLETIC 0, BOLTON 2

ATHLETIC slipped to defeat in their first home pre-season friendly, with first-half goals by Liam Feeney and Gary Madine doing the damage.

Manager Darren Kelly mixed-and-matched his line-up, with plenty of first-team regulars from last season on the substitutes' bench.

Bolton took advantage of those areas that were relatively weak, with Feeney hammering in the opening goal after springing the offside trap on 21 minutes.

Neil Lennon's Championship side grew in confidence after that and could have scored more than the Madine's far-post header on the stroke of half-time.

Athletic regrouped after the break and Lee Croft stiffened up the fragile midfield, but scoring opportunities were few and far between for both sides as a raft of substitutions saw the game become disjointed.

Danny Philliskirk hit one straight at Ben Amos from 35 yards out and on-trial Alen Ploj saw an effort from a tight angle blocked, but Athletic couldn't make a breakthrough.