Atherton Collieries suffered a first defeat of pre-season after an entertaining game saw Bolton Wanderers B run out 5-2 winners at the Skuna Stadium on Saturday.

It was once again rainy conditions for the annual friendly fixture, with goals from Finn Lockett, Ben Andreucci, Leo Graham, Wes Frimpong and trialist Luke Matheson giving the visitors a comfortable victory.

A second-half own goal and a Jack Evans’ strike did give Colls some hope, but in the end it was defensive errors that cost David Chadwick’s side the result, punished by a ruthless Bolton Academy side.

Bolton’s youngsters looked assured in possession from the off and took the lead after just 10 minutes, a well-worked move saw the ball played out to Matheson on the right, who smashed his first-time effort past Nico Hansen to put the visitors ahead.

Colls grew into the game slowly and really should have drawn level - Jordan Scanlon playing out on the right saw two chances denied in quick succession, courtesy of former Colls man Luke Hutchinson in the Wanderers goal.

Any hope of a Colls comeback was quickly dashed, however, Hansen beaten to a through ball by another former Colls man, Lockett, who poked the ball past the keeper and slotted into the empty net to flatten the home side’s momentum.

Another error followed just minutes later, a miss-control by Jordan Boon at the back allowed Andreucci to pounce, the summer arrival galloping through on goal and finishing into the bottom corner to give Bolton a healthy three-goal lead going into the break.

Colls had one back just minutes into the second half courtesy of a bizarre own goal. The Bolton defender attempted to clear Ben Rydel’s delivery into the box from right-back but he sliced the ball in the wet conditions, deceiving Hutchinson and seeing it nestle in the back of the net.

Hansen was on hand shortly after with a pair of impressive saves to keep Colls in with a shout.

However, it was his miss-kicked clearance that was intercepted by Graham, the Academy youngster lofting the ball into the vacant goal to put the visitors out of sight.

Colls did pull one back through Evans, the defender nodding home Josh Askew’s delivery into the box.

But it proved only to be a consolation as Frimpong’s sweetly-struck effort into the top corner rounded off a deserved win for the young Bolton side.

Chadwick’s Colls side continue their pre-season preparations with a trip to 1874 Northwich tomorrow night (7.45pm).