Bolton Bow Out As First Three Semi-Finalists Confirmed
Defending champions Bolton Wanderers are out of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy after losing out to Blackpool in a penalty shootout.
Bolton were bidding to become the first team to successfully defend the title, but instead slipped out of the competition during the first three quarter-finals as the Road to Wembley continued.
Bolton had made the trip to Bloomfield Road on the back of a solid 4-1 away with at Carlisle, which allowed the Trotters to maintain their bid for promotion from League 1.
Blackpool meanwhile had been held to a draw by Charlton to remain just outside the play-off places.
Veteran striker Cameron Jerome saw an effort saved by Blackpool ‘keeper Richard O’Donnell with the first real chance of the game, and both sides had opportunities to grab a first half lead as Shane Lavery had an effort blocked for the home side before the Seasiders survived a goal mouth scramble at the other end.
Matthew Pennington fired narrowly wide for Blackpool in the second half whilst CJ Hamilton also went close before Bolton had a chance to win it through Dion Charles – who saw his snapshot saved by O’Donnell.
The game went to penalties with O’Donnell and Joel Coleman both saving two kicks before Zac Ashworth sidefooted his effort wide to leave the holders out and put Blackpool through to the next stage.
The other game in the Northern section saw Bradford City take on Doncaster Rovers, with the League 2 pair both looking for a distraction from poor league form – with Bradford having not taken a league win since before Christmas, ironically against the same opponents.
Doncaster meanwhile had picked up a single win so far in the league in 2024, and went into the game on the back of a 5-1 loss at home to leaders Stockport.
Jake Young spurned a good chance for Bradford in the first half but it was the Bantams who hit the front after the break after Harry Chapman curled a free-kick into the bottom corner to open the scoring.
Joe Ironside headed narrowly over the top for Doncaster before Bradford were reduced to ten men after Andy Cook was sent off for two yellow cards. Despite the extra man advantage, Doncaster were unable to find a way through, as Bradford made it into the semi-finals.
With Wycombe against Brighton & Hove Albion U21 still to come, the only game in the Southern section of the draw saw Peterborough United welcome AFC Wimbledon to London Road, with the League 1 promotion hopefuls bidding to progress at the expense of the League 2 visitors.
The game was over as a contest inside the first five minutes as Peterborough raced into a 2-0 lead, with Malik Mothersille sliding in the opener before setting up Ephron Mason-Clark to clip in the second.
Ryan McLean got Wimbledon back into the game late on when he nodded in from a corner but as the away side piled forwards to chase an equaliser, Ricky-Jade Jones was able to break forwards to roll the ball into an empty net
The draw for the last four will be made on Friday at approximately and will not be regionalised, with semi-final ties taking place in the week commencing 19 February.