Zac Ashworth started the scoring on a fine weekend for loan club Bolton Wanderers.
Having been restored to the starting XI for the Lancashire outfit’s Sky Bet League One clash away at Carlisle, the full-back gave Ian Evatt’s men the perfect start - looping an expert finish over United shot-stopper Harry Lewis to put his team ahead on 31 minutes.
The Wales U21 international played 90 before being replaced by Nathanael Ogbeta, who would later cap off a 4-1 victory deep into stoppage time with a goal himself - adding to earlier strikes from Paris Maghoma and Kyle Dempsey to lift Wanderers up to second place in the standings.
In England’s fourth tier, Mo Faal made his debut for fellow West Midlands outfit Walsall at the Poundland Bescot Stadium. Albion’s academy graduate was handed a start and featured for 66 minutes of the Saddlers’ 1-1 draw with Sutton United.
Donervon Daniels rifled Faal’s team ahead within the first 20 minutes, but Craig Eastmond’s leveller a few moments later would be telling - meaning the U’s took a share of the spoils back to south London and left Walsall seven points adrift of the play-off positions.
Jamie Andrews couldn’t prevent Grimsby Town falling to a 2-1 defeat against Tranmere Rovers in the same division on Saturday afternoon.
The central midfielder played the full game at Blundell Park on a day where the Mariners were unlucky not to gain a point. Doug Tharme had got David Artell’s team back in the game prior to the interval following Rob Apter’s opener for the visitors, but Rob Mullarkey’s own goal nine minutes into second 45 restored Rovers’ advantage.
Captain Danny Rose came agonisingly close to helping Andrews’ team earn a share of the spoils late on. However, opposition keeper Luke McGee produced a great save to keep the Grimsby skipper’s shot out and extending their wait for a win to three matches.
Goalkeeper Ronnie Hollingshead rounds off the list of Baggies who featured for their loan teams over the weekend, as he started again for non-league Alvechurch.
The ‘Church’ came from behind to secure a point during their 1-1 draw away at Leamington and while Hollingshead was unable to keep a clean sheet when Will Shorrock gave the Brakes the initiative early on, Dylan Allen-Hadley’s second-half effort meant James Fry’s men added another point to their tally in the Southern Premier Central League.
