ALEX Samizadeh’s third goal of the season was not enough as Wanderers crashed out of the Under-21 Premier League Cup in the Second Qualifying Round, writes Liz Owen.

George Newell and Jon Ceberio also found the net in an entertaining encounter but Bolton were left chasing the game as Sheffield United relinquished their lead only once to progress.

It will be scant consolation for Iain Brunskill’s side but Samizadeh’s goal was the pick of the bunch. With Wanderers trailing 3-1 early in the second half, the 16-year-old showed why he has been catching the eye. Cutting into the box from the left, the Iranian made his way past the United defence to nestle a low shot into the bottom corner.

The Blades had broken the deadlock after 17 minutes through a well-taken volley by Joel Coustrain, who capitalised on poor defending from a corner.

It took only four minutes for Bolton to draw level as a swift attacking move initiated by Samizadeh ended with Newell firing home from Ceberio’s right-sided pass.

But Wanderers fell behind once more shortly after the half-hour mark when Ben Whiteman dispatched a Blades penalty.

And the visitors increased their advantage three minutes after the interval when Otis Khan slotted home from around six yards out.

A bright finish by Samizadeh gave the onlooking Wanderers faithful hope of a comeback but that was quickly extinguished by United’s fourth, Jake Wright directing Kler Heh’s pass past Harry Campbell.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Ceberio brought Bolton back into contention with a close-range finish, but the home side couldn’t find that all-important leveller.

Wanderers: Campbell, Lussey, Maher, Finney (Garratt, 46), Taylor, Twardzik, Holding, Campbell-Young (Cvetko, 55), Newell (Palmer, 23), Ceberio, Samizadeh Subs not used: Fitzsimons, Hughes