IAN Evatt knows Wanderers had plenty of scope for improvement in their finishing – but was pleased with the first pre-season run-out at Longridge Town.

Second-half goals from Harry Brockbank, Amadou Bakayoko and Ronan Darcy earned the Whites a 3-1 win at the Mike Riding Ground in a game to mark the North West Counties League club’s 25th anniversary.

Wanderers were made to work hard for the result, though, and trailed 1-0 at the break when Arek Pociask headed the home side in front.

Several chances were missed in the first half and Bolton fans were left concerned when captain Antoni Sarcevic went off with an injury shortly after the opening goal.

But after seeing his side come good, Evatt says he could take something positive from the afternoon.

“We could have scored and should have scored plenty more, but other than the Sarce hamstring tightening up really, it was a good workout,” he said.

“I thought they were competitive, they had a go at us, they pressed us. Then they got into low block and they made it difficult for us.

“Obviously the pitch is excellent but when it’s dry and they haven’t got irrigation it makes the ball more difficult to move and pass and to dribble with.

“But we came through unscathed and that’s the main thing.”

Wanderers improved after half time and created plenty of chances, and Evatt was pleased with some of the combinations – particularly down the left-flank with last season’s power pair Dapo Afolayan and Declan John.

“There is still lots to work on,” he said. “Productivity in the final third, especially our finishing, needs to improve, but I thought we got there really well.

“We controlled the ball as we should but some of the patterns were excellent and some of the play was excellent and you could see the lads that have already built relationships.

“For instance, Declan and Dapo second half, you could tell they are used to playing with each other so found it more fluid and easy whereas the other ones were still working each other out. That is where we’re at, but it will improve with games.”

All eight of Bolton’s summer signings made an appearance at Longridge but Alex Baptiste, Andy Tutte and Dennis Politic were absent from the squad.

Evatt had disclosed earlier in the week that two of his players would be excluded from the Longridge game because of Covid isolation.

Regardless, the Bolton boss believes his team can use their friendly schedule to gel before the League One action kicks off at the start of next month.

“First half, we just couldn’t score,” he said. “We got in there so many times and the keeper has made saves, but they were all saves he should have made, so that’s the finishing.

“The keeper will probably say he was man of the match but I’d expect him to save those because our finishing wasn’t quite up to scratch.

“But the way we’re finding gaps and finding pockets of space and moving the ball is great and it’s hard when you’re throwing lads together that haven’t played together before.

“They’ve got time to figure each other out and figure out where the strengths and weaknesses are. We were so clinical down that left side in the second half because they’re used to playing together. Dapo, a bit of magic, Declan’s forward running and it was excellent.”