WANDERERS Under-18s were held to a 1-1 draw by Barnsley in their U18 Professional Development League clash on Saturday.

Nicky Spooner's hosts started brightly with some slick passing football and thought they had taken the lead before Harry Brockbank's strike was disallowed.

They continued to press but could not find a breakthrough before half time.

They picked up where they had left off after the restart but had to wait until the 70th minute to find a way through when Dennis Politic ran onto a through pass from Jack Everest and fired home the opener.

The game was there to be won for the young Whites who were looking to bounce back from a first defeat of the season a week earlier at Nottingham Forest.

But the Tykes kept plugging away and got their equaliser through Kane Swinburn late on to earn a share of the spoils.

Coach Spooner told The Bolton News: "We started the game very well playing quick, attacking football.

"We had a goal disallowed but continued the pressure with good play and movement and should have gone in at half time in front.

"In the second half we again dominated the play but couldn't find the goal.

"We eventually got in front through Dennis Politic but after that we didn't press enough for the second and allowed Barnsley to equalise.

"It was a disappointing result that did not reflect the performance."

The U18s are on the road this Saturday when they visit Bristol City, kick off 1pm.

Wanderers Under-18s: Aspinall, Everest, White, Griffiths-Jones, Brockbank, Grivosti, Politic, Marsh, Moore, Abdo, Navarro. Subs: Pearson, Garner, Connell, Broughton, Preston.