Lincoln City won their first game of the Championship season and took three points on Bolton soil for the first time since the night Torvill and Dean danced the Bolero.
The Imps made changes from the side that lost to Portsmouth last weekend. Tom Hamer missed out with a thigh strain, meaning Callum Elder came into the side. With Tendayi Darikwa ruled out for the season, Ryley Towler also came in, with Dom Jefferies slotting in at right back.
The Trotters included former Imp Ethan Erhahon in their XI, with Sam Dalby also starting, the player who scored their equaliser against the Imps in February. His first touch of the afternoon was greeted by boos from the travelling City support, before Bolton had an early penalty appeal waved away in the fourth minute. A decent ball into the area saw Ben House turn on his man, who went to ground, but the claims were weak, and the referee was unmoved.
House had City’s first half-chance four minutes later, battling his way into the area and briefly appearing as though he might get beyond Jack Bonham, but the Bolton goalkeeper eventually came out to clear. At the other end, Thierry Gale curled what looked like a cross towards goal and forced George Wickens into a save, although Sam Dalby had already been penalised for a push and any goal would not have counted.
Varfolomeev then saw an effort blocked after Bolton had dealt with three successive City long throws, before Max Conway tried his luck from the edge of the area for the hosts, his effort deflecting behind for a corner. Bolton worked that set piece short, eventually finding Samuel Iling-Junior in space, but his effort from a wide position was comfortably dealt with.
City were being roundly booed whenever they took time over restarts, while a mistake from McGrandles handed Bolton possession in the 17th minute. Towler recovered well enough to poke the ball behind for a corner, although the hosts could not make anything of the resulting delivery.
Bolton began to find more space as the half progressed. Lewis Brunt broke down the right in the 21st minute, but his cross flashed through the area without finding a white shirt. A minute later, they should have been ahead. Iling-Junior powered down the right, held off McGrandles and delivered for Dalby, whose effort struck the outside of the post.
City responded with their best opening of the half after 27 minutes. McGrandles and Callum Elder combined on the left before the latter crossed towards House, but despite finding himself in a promising position, the striker scuffed his attempt and failed to trouble Bonham.
Bolton quickly regained control, sending a succession of dangerous balls into the City area, with Towler making a number of important interventions. House was then booked on the half-hour after going down as he attempted to round Bonham following a ball over the top. The goalkeeper appeared to kick out as House went past him, but the referee judged there had been no contact and showed the City striker a yellow card for simulation.
Wickens produced the outstanding save of the half two minutes later. Brunt met a delivery with a header from point-blank range, but the City goalkeeper reacted superbly to parry the ball over the crossbar as Bolton continued to dominate.
A rare City attack in the 36th minute ended with Elder crossing towards the back post, but Hackett was penalised for a push on his marker. Bolton continued to create the clearer openings, with John McAtee shooting straight at Wickens from distance before Dalby headed over from around ten yards after another dangerous delivery from the left.
Erhahon was next to threaten as City defended their area under increasing pressure. The ball dropped invitingly to the former Imp on the edge of the box, but he side-footed wide. Bolton had one final opportunity before the interval when another good delivery picked out Akin Famewo, whose header was directed straight at Wickens.
That was the last action of the half, with City doubtless happy to have gone in at half time level.
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