A STIRRING second half team display and a spectacular solo performance by Julian King ensured Bolton First XI entered the Christmas break on a high, ultimately crushing Manchester 6-0.

The last time the fixture was played it had been in bad temper and had to be abandoned, but there was little prospect of a repeat as both sides settled for hockey over boxing.

Manchester have struggled this year and are rooted to the bottom of the league. They rely almost exclusively on a live-wire centre forward for inspiration, and he did not disappoint, running the Bolton backline ragged with pace and skill. It was fortunate that his team-mates were unable to support him, as time and again it took the combined efforts of Mathieson, Jones, Tobutt, Short and keeper Neville to deal with the one man.

By contrast in defence, Manchester relied on numbers to thwart Bolton who seemed at as loss as to how to make their abundant possession pay off.

Having battled away to a half time stalemate, harsh words kick-started a more dynamic display. Having tried to slip through to no avail, Bolton changed tactics and went simply to run their opponents out of the game. Steve Way took advantage of slack marking to launch a huge pass into the heart of the defence, which required no more than a deft deflection from King to open the scoring.

In that one moment the game changed. Bolton now began to find space and time to work crisp passing moves, while Manchester could pose no threat on the scraps of possession that they were allowed. John Woods showed great persistence to score the second, riding a series of brutal challenges before driving the ball low into the corner.

Peter Flanagan now began to impose himself, showing skills that dazzled both the crowd and the opposition. Having seen his crosses squandered, he stepped inside his marker, powered in on goal to slam the ball high past the keeper, who may have heard the ball pass him, but never saw it.

Bolton then rang the changes up front, with King, Cooke and Aitken all enjoying the freedom afforded by dispirited defenders. King's second came from Aitken's neat run, close control, and audacious lob, which was nicked home virtually on the line. Woods then added his trademark penalty corner flick and it was left to King to round off the scoring with a crisp finish for his hat-trick.

The Second team's promotion credentials were severely tested once again in a tough, but bruising encounter against the division's surprise outfit, Blackpool.

Despite an Adam Friend penalty miss, Bolton battled back from being a goal behind twice, and a man down, to force a 2 - 2 draw, and could have been deemed unlucky not to claim all three points.

Bolton more than matched their opponents in every department, with Mark Emmett and Richard Guest producing yet another solid performance in the Bolton backline. The best chance in the opening flurry fell to in-form striker Owen Evans, but he could only see his effort saved by the sprawling Blackpool keeper.

It was at the other end when Blackpool made the crucial breakthrough. As the ball came into the Bolton "D", the Blackpool forward tangled with Ian Smith. From the resulting, dubiously given short corner, Guest was harshly penalised and Blackpool were awarded a penalty stroke, from where they then took the lead.

The equaliser came when Friend hit a hopeful ball in to theBlackpool "D", which caused confusion in the Blackpool defence. The ball ran free and Evans couldn't believe his luck as he slotted the ball into an unguarded goal for his fourteenth goal of the season.

In the second half Bolton couldn't find the decisive breakthrough but when the tide seemed to have turned when awarded a penalty stroke Friend shot over the target.

Tempers began to fray as certain umpiring decisions went against Bolton, which caused them to lose control. It was from there that Blackpool took the lead again. A hopeful cross into the Bolton "D" found a forward unmarked and a deflective shot completely deceived Chris Goldsbrough, who was left stranded in the Bolton goal.

As Bolton began to lose control, Guest was yellow carded as he reacted to bad challenge, which left the umpire no alternative, but to send him off. Bolton reorganised and soon began to take control once again, despite being down to ten men.

With only five minutes remaining, Guest returning to the field , picked up the ball from inside the Bolton 25 yard line from a pass from Emmett. As he pushed forward the Blackpool midfield parted like the Red Sea. As he continued his mazy run into the Blackpool "D" unchallenged, he unleashed his trademark thunderbolt to fire in an unstoppable equaliser. It was no more than Bolton deserved.

Chris Hoddle rolled back the years and scored four in the Fourth XI's 5-2 away win, to prove that home is not always happy for Crewe Vagrants.

Hoddle's first was swiftly equalised, but this set the scene for Hoddle's repertoire of finishing -- neat deflections, clean strikes and gentle chips over despairing keepers were all on display.

In among this demonstration, Paul Chapman grabbed Bolton's fifth, pouncing on a rebound from a Hoddle shot, and Crewe got a second, but there was no doubt about the man of the match.