WANDERERS preserved their unbeaten pre-season with a 1-0 win at Barrow.

Dapo Afolayan scored the decisive goal just before half time to make it four wins and a draw this summer for Ian Evatt’s side.

And a solid afternoon’s work was capped with the return of Dennis Politic for the first time since he picked up a serious injury at Loughborough last year.

Wanderers started the game well and Gethin Jones had an effort cleared off the line by former Bolton trainee Mark Ellis in the first few minutes.

Eoin Doyle, back from his self-isolation, also caused a flutter of nerves at the back for Barrow as he raced on to a long punt from Joel Dixon, forcing Paul Farman to race off his line to make the save.

From there, the home side took control of the game. Tom White showed up well in midfield against his former club and right-winger Remeao Hutton caused problems for Declan John with his direct running.

Patrick Brough and Matt Platt headed chances just over the bar and Wanderers were forced to defend a string of crosses and set pieces to preserve their clean sheet.

Just as thoughts turned towards half time, and a game Bolton were struggling to command, Eoin Doyle produced a perfectly weighted ball for Afolayan top drill inside Farman’s right-hand post.

Wanderers never really relinquished control as the game slowed down in the second half under a flurry of substitutions. One, in particular, raised the pulses of the travelling fans as Politic stepped off the bench to play his first game in 12 months, replacing Afolayan.

The unlikely figure of Alex Baptiste went closest to scoring a second for the Whites as he hammered a right-footed shot from the edge of the box which shaved the bar.

Barrow also came close to levelling the scores as an overhead kick from Dimitri Sea was palmed away by Dixon at close range.

WANDERERS: Dixon; Jones (Crawford 77), Baptiste (Senior 77), Brockbank, John (Gordon 68); Williams (Sarcevic 56), Lee (Sheehan 56); Afolayan (Politic 60), Thomason (Tutte 68), Delfouneso (Darcy 59); Doyle (Bakayoko 68).

Attendance: 1,918