DION Charles scored his first goal for Bolton Wanderers to win a tense game at the death in Shrewsbury.

The striker, signed from Accrington Stanley at the start of January, spun to hit an unstoppable volley in the dying moments at the Montgomery Waters Stadium.

Wanderers had done well to hold on to a point at that stage, having never played at their best, and defended under intense pressure for long periods.

But Charles’s stunner left a sold-out away support singing long into the night, and gave Ian Evatt’s side back-to-back wins since the end of October.

Evatt kept the same side which had beaten Ipswich the previous weekend but brought Jon Dadi Bodvarsson on to the bench for Nathan Delfouneso.

It was a tight first half with little attacking action for Wanderers.

Their best chance of a goal came when George Johnston and Declan John combined on the left, the latter poking an inviting cross into the six yard box to which nobody could get a decisive touch.

Bolton were not nearly as crisp in possession as normal, and Shrewsbury gradually grew in confidence, peppering the penalty box with a succession of dangerous crosses.

Ryan Bowman tested James Trafford with a low shot from the edge of the box, Elliott Bennett hammered a half-volley just over the bar and Bolton old boy Josh Vela drilled another shot from distance which landed in the 1,650-strong travelling support.

Ian Evatt changed the shape of his side at half time by swapping Kieran Lee for Dapo Afolayan, and they quickly looked more of a threat going forward.

Bakayoko went close with a near-post header and Jones also got on the end of Declan John’s corner, only to nod the ball wide.

Shrewsbury still looked dangerous – and Trafford made his best save of the day to tip Daniel Udoh’s skimming shot around the post with an hour gone.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson came on for his debut, replacing Bakayoko, but it was Charles who looked Bolton’s best chance of breaking the deadlock, the Northern Irishman twice denied by some excellent defending in front of the Shrewsbury goal.

With four minutes to go, Charles’s hard work to win the ball back presented a chance for Afolayan, who twisted and turned on the edge of the box but could not beat Marko Marosi with his low shot.

Nobody deserved to take centre stage more – and with seconds left in normal time, Afolayan played a square ball to him on the edge of the box, he took one touch to turn and a second to crash a brilliant volley into the top corner.

The Wanderers fans erupted in celebration. This had been the perfect smash and grab.