DAPO Afolayan came up with a 95th minute winner for Wanderers in a barnstorming finish at Fleetwood Town.

Ian Evatt’s side have returned to the top six after an incredible finale which saw them draw level five minutes before the end through Conor Bradley, then grab all three points in stoppage time.

Wanderers had pressed incessantly to get back into the game after falling behind in the 17th minute through Carlos Mendes Gomes.

It was easy to wonder if a finishing touch was ever going to arrive but after a trio of second-half substitutions all made an impact, Bolton deservedly took the points.

The first half was a depressingly familiar tale for Wanderers, who found themselves a goal down despite creating some very presentable chances.

None were better than the one which fell to Owen Beck just a couple of minutes into the game – Aaron Morley’s bouncing shot had been pushed aside by ex-Bolton keeper Jay Lynch, falling perfectly for the youngster who, somehow, managed to slide a shot wide.

Evatt had asked his side to get more shots in on goal, and the instruction seemed to have been heeded, at least for the opening 20 minutes. Dapo Afolayan brought another save out of Lynch, as did Elias Kachunga, who made a good run from the left.

Fleetwood had put relatively little pressure on the Bolton goal up to the 17th minute but when Josh Vela combined with Danny Andrew on the left, Carlos Mendes Gomes picked up on the half-cleared cross to drive a fine finish past James Trafford from the edge of the box.

Wanderers got in a couple of reasonable positions before half time to get themselves back into the game – but as so often in recent weeks, lacked the final bit of quality.

Charles, George Johnston and George Thomason all had chances but it was to a scattering of boos from the away end that Evatt and his side went back down the tunnel at half time.

Things really became heated in the second half, moments after Charles lifted another effort from close range just over the crossbar.

Shaun Rooney appeared to push Owen Beck in the face directly in front of the dugouts, sparking a melee involving just about every player and coach on the pitch.

The mess was eventually sorted, Rooney picking up a yellow card, and things had hardly calmed down before another moment of confusion as Josh Earl drifted through to drive a shot at goal – the referee over-ruling a linesman’s flag in the build-up.

Chances continued to pile up for Bolton, Bradley and Jones now supplying a stream of decent crosses from the right. Charles and Beck failed to take advantage, and another ball from Afolayan dribbled agonisingly across the six-yard box.

But Fleetwood also had moments where they could have killed off the game completely. Rooney drove a shot off the base of the post, and sub Josh Omochere was denied by a last-ditch challenge from Ricardo Santos.

Sub Jon Dadi Bodvarsson stabbed just wide after Kieran Sadlier – himself fresh off the bench – had made good ground on the left.

And then with five minutes left of normal time, Sadlier produced some more magic on the left to put a dangerous cross to the far post, this time hammered into the net from close range by Bradley.

The one-way traffic continued. Johnston headed inches over the crossbar from a corner as six minutes of added time was shown by the fourth official.

Only one team was going to win it at that point, and once again it was a substitute who made the big difference. Josh Sheehan picked the ball up on the left, beat his man, drove in a cross – and waiting for it was Afolayan. Cue delirium in the Bolton end.