Wanderers Res 0 Man Utd Res 2 THE result spoiled the biggest night of the season for Wanderers reserves.

A massive crowd of 5,799 turned out on a bitterly cold night to get their first look at new Italian signing Enzo Gambaro and witness Alan Thompson's first comeback game from injury.

Thompson, who had a double hernia operation at the beginning of December, came through the 90-minute test and almost marked the occasion with a goal. Manager Colin Todd said: "Alan has taken the first step on the road to recovery and now needs more games."

The downside of the night was that the reserves' mini revival of three unbeaten games came to an end when Pontins League leaders Manchester United ran out 2-0 winners at Burnden last night.

The crowd was warmed by Bolton's enterprising start to the game with wingers Alan Thompson and Stuart Whittaker turning the visitors defence inside out.

Unfortunately, there were few clear cut chances but Wanderers' best effort of the first half came in the 24th minute. Steve McAnespie scooped the ball forward to Fabian de Freitas who set up a shooting opportunity for Greg Strong. His effort went narrowly wide of the target. United went ahead seven minutes from the interval when Paul Scholes found himself clean through and he beat Aidan Davison with a low shot from 15 yards.

Bolton were more purposeful during the second half and United had keeper Tony Coton to thank for making saves from McAnespie and a 25-yard piledriver from Thompson.

David Beckham fired United into a two-goal lead in the 63rd minute when his free kick on the edge of the area took a deflection on it's way into the net.

Coton, playing his first game for United, continued to be the busier of the two keepers with Wayne Burnett the main instigator of Bolton's attacking flurries. Alan Thompson was unlucky not to cap his comeback with a goal when Coton managed to grasped his low shot from the edge of the area at the second attempt late in the game. Team: Davison, McAnespie, Gambaro, Powell, Coleman, Strong, Whittaker, Burnett, Hallows, De Freitas, Thompson.

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