Bolton Reserves 1 Chelsea Reserves 2 JOEY O’Brien began his latest comeback bid from his injury nightmare when he came through 66 minutes as the reserves’ five-match unbeaten run was ended by Chelsea.

The 25-yearold midfielder has not played for Wanderers since October 2008 after suffering a succession of career-threatening knee problems. He was told he would never play again after having a piece of his kneecap removed, but successfully came through pre-season only to suffer another setback in September.

O’Brien returned to action in last week’s behind-closed-doors friendly victory over former Manchester United star Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Molde. And he continued his rehabilitation last night with a run out for John Henry’s in-form side, which also included Jlloyd Samuel and Tamir Cohen at Leyland’s County Ground.

Wanderers, looking for a fifth win in six games, could have been ahead after just five minutes when Chelsea keeper Samuel Walker saved well from Tom Eaves. Bolton keeper Rob Lainton did well to deny Billy Clifford and Fabio Borini either side of Eaves heading over another good chance from Joe Riley’s inviting cross.

The striker spurned an even better opportunity on 29 minutes. Cohen crashed a header against the underside of the bar from Danny Ward’s corner and, as he went for the rebound, Ryan Bertrand bundled him over in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Top-scorer Eaves took the penalty but his attempt lacked the power and Walker dived to his right to make the save.

The Londoners made Wanderers pay when ull back Todd Kane slid in to convert Bertrand low cross on 35 minutes. Italian Borini underlined his potential with a stunning 63rd-minute strike.

O’Brien’s speculative free kick from just inside his own half struck the crossbar in what was the Irishman’s last contribution before being replaced by Adam Blakeman.

Eaves made amends for his penalty miss when he cut inside from the left and curled a superb shot into the top corner in the final minute for his ninth goal in 11 games.

Wanderers: Lainton, Riley, Samuel, McQuade, Connolly, O’Brien (Blakeman 66), Ward (McGeechan 72), Cohen (Vela 89), Eaves, O’Halloran, Obadeyi. Subs not used: Lynch, Bennett.

Chelsea: Walker, Kane (Deen-Conteh 46), Kalas, Pappoe, Bertrand, Djalo (Phillip 75), McEachran, Chalobah, Clifford, Lalkovic (Mitrovic 75), Borini. Subs not used: Blackman, Saville, Phillip.