WANDERERS did just enough to get their pre-season off to a winning start in an entertaining friendly at Chorley.

Phil Parkinson’s happy homecoming was in serious doubt until the stroke of half time when home captain Andy Teague was given a straight red card for a furious reaction to Jeff King’s sliding challenge.

Chorley were 2-0 up and cruising at that point thanks to goals from Terry Gornell and Marcus Carver. Wanderers could have no argument, looking ring-rusty in all areas barring the right wing, where new boys Will Buckley and Mark Little offered a little attacking intent.

Just as the Magpies looked like they would be heading in at the break to be praised for a job well done, big defender Teague saw red mist descend after being clattered on the touchline by King, He later described the challenge as a “leg breaker” but while ref Paul Marsden gave the Wanderers youngster a caution, he had little choice but to send Teague to the dressing room to calm down.

Wanderers took maximum advantage. Parkinson changed all 11 players, his team now a different prospect figuratively and literally.

Harry Brockbank led the charge – heading home from close range – before the equally-impressive Ryan White produced a well-taken second on 67 minutes.

Bolton-born Brockbank then scrambled his second, Bolton’s third, to complete the comeback and cap off an impressive individual display.

Parkinson, born in Chorley, admitted his team had been caught in the traps.

“Whatever stage of the season you’re in, you can’t afford to start a game like that,” he told The Bolton News.

“On a sticky pitch we went out and played too slowly and I think it’s a lesson because you can’t do that.

“I think as the first half went on it got better and then when the second half team came out, they raised the tempo.”

Wanderers gave a trial to Swiss striker Haris Tabakovic in the second half, Parkinson later confirming the 23-year-old Grasshoppers man will accompany the club on their two-game tour of Scotland.

Wanderers (first half): Alnwick; Little, Wheater, Dervite, Lonsdale; Buckley, Perry, Karacan, King; Madine, Le Fondre (Second half): Howard; Darby, Brockbank, Beevers, Taylor; White, Vela, Pratley, C Taylor; Hall, Trialist.