WANDERERS finally got some business done early as two first-half goals wrapped up a comfortable pre-Christmas victory against Exeter City.

Conor Bradley and Dion Charles did the honours inside the first half-hour, and the margin of victory could – and probably should – have been wider.

Bolton slowed down in the second period but defended stoutly to ensure James Trafford kept his ninth clean sheet of the campaign.

Having made two changes to the side beaten at Shrewsbury Town last weekend, Wanderers got themselves on the scoresheet first – a rarity this season, and the first time it has happened in the league since October.

Exeter had actually made quite a positive start – Josh Key getting an early sight of James Trafford’s goal and full-back Jake Caprice putting a couple of dangerous balls into the box.

Bolton broke through with their first meaningful attack as Jack Iredale and Kieran Lee exchanged passes on the left edge of the penalty box before the latter pulled a cross back for Dion Charles, who nudged a delicate header towards goal which bounced off the base of the post and harmlessly back into Jamal Blackman’s hands.

Undeterred, Wanderers made the next chance count. Once again it was Lee who progressed into the penalty box and as Charles took his pass with back to goal, he was able to lay-off for Bradley to score from eight yards out.

Exeter flopped from there. Blackman had to make another save two minutes later when Charles and Afolayan broke quickly, and Bradley somehow managed to put a header off-target from right in front of goal after the front two had combined effectively once again.

Wanderers doubled their lead on 26 minutes, cutting through again on the left through Aaron Morley and George Johnston, whose pull-back was steered into the net by Charles for his 10th of the season.

Morley and Johnston were at it again moments later, feeding the ball to Charles inside the penalty box and allowing the striker to spin and hit another shot off the woodwork.

Exeter improved after half time and asked more questions of a Bolton back line playing their first league match together.

Charles burst through early on after an error from former Bolton defender Jonathan Grounds but chances started to dry up, allowing the Grecians their first spell of concerted pressure.

Buoyed by a triple substitution, the Devon men made Eoin Toal, Will Aimson and George Johnston defend their penalty box with a succession of crosses and corners – but aside from one Josh Key goal ruled out for offside, James Trafford had little to worry about.

Wanderers also called for reinforcements to give them the necessary boost. Kyle Dempsey had a powerful effort blocked on the edge of the box and MJ Williams also caught a sweet shot from 20 yards, dealt with well by Blackman.

Exeter ran out of impetus well before the end, allowing the Whites to coast through five minutes of stoppage time and preserve a result which keeps a three-point cushion between themselves and the chasing pack in the play-off race.