On a blustery evening in Leyland, Rovers Reserves lost a penalty shootout as Bolton reached the final of the Lancashire F.A. Canterbury Senior Cup.

After the score had ended 2-2 at the end of ninety minutes, the home side defeated Rovers 5-4 in the resulting spot-kicks.

Bolton had raced into shock two-goal lead early on, but Rovers got their passing game together and from Aaron Doran's free-kick Gavin Gunning (pictured) headed them back in contention just before the break.

Iain Brunskill's Reserve side dominated the second period, finally getting on level terms twenty minutes from time when Marcus Marshall fired home after Keith Treacy's bullet effort wasn't held.

But try as they might Rovers couldn't grab the winner their play deserved and when Martin Olsson missed a sudden-death spot-kick, Adam Blakeman made no mistake to send the Trotters through to a final against Manchester United.

Rovers had named a strong starting eleven with the likes of Carlos Villanueva, Zurab Khizanishvili, Keith Treacy, Aaron Doran, Martin Olsson and Danny Simpson all getting some useful match time, but it was Bolton who started the better of the two sides.

A corner on 12 minutes gave cause for concern, Sam Sheridan's kick picking out the unmarked Temitope Obadeyi, but with the goal at his mercy he headed over the bar.

Rovers didn't heed that warning and two minutes later the home side took the lead. Sheridan's short free-kick to Aaron Mooy catching Rovers out and his delicate chip flew over Andreas Arestidou and into the top corner of the net.

Arestidou redeemed himself five minutes later when saved well to stop Mooy scoring his and Bolton's second.

Rovers rallied briefly, Aaron Doran's inswinging corner kicks were causing problems for Bogdan, the Bolton 'keeper just managing to claw one out from under his crossbar, whilst Carlos Villanueva dragged an effort from the edge of the area wide, before Keith Treacy saw a shot saved at the near post.

But on 25 minutes Rovers were hit on the break and Bolton doubled their lead, a quick ball out of defence found Obadeyi in space, the Bolton striker bore down on goal before firing through Gavin Gunning's legs catching Arestidou flat-footed as the ball nestled in the corner of the goal.

Marrow, Doran and Olsson all went close for Rovers before they finally pulled a goal back with five minutes of the first half remaining.

Aaron Doran's free-kick from the left was perfectly placed for Gavin Gunning to glance the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Rovers pinned Bolton back into their half in the closing staged of the first period, Jason Lowe saw a shot from inside the area blocked before Alex Marrow fired over the bar when well placed.

With the wind at their backs in the second half Rovers were much the better side. Treacy was twice denied by Bogdan, Villanueva shot straight at the goalkeeper, whilst Doran fired narrowly over, as the trio pulled the strings for Rovers in the early stages of the second half.

But with half an eye on Saturday's Premier League match against Portsmouth, Doran and Villanueva were replaced by Marcus Marshall and Julio Santa Cruz on 65 minutes.

On 72 minutes Rovers finally got the second goal their play deserved and inevitably Keith Treacy was to play a pivotal role. The Ireland under 21 international blasting a ball towards goal that almost knocked Bogdan into the back of the net.

The young Bolton goalkeeper managed to keep that out, and also Julio Santa Cruz on the follow-up but was powerless as the lose ball was lashed home by Marcus Marshall.

Sensing victory Rovers were camped in the Bolton half for the remainder of the game, but try as they might they just couldn't get that third goal. Santa Cruz dragged an effort wide, whilst after taking down Gunning's long pass brilliantly, Treacy was denied by a smart save then saw an other effort flash just over the corner of post and bar.

In a frantic final five minutes, Treacy set up Jason Lowe but his header was saved before in the final seconds a Treacy cross found Marshall but Bogdan somehow kept the ball from finding the back of the net.

Canterbury Cup rules state drawn games go straight to penalties, and it had started well for Rovers as Simpson dispatched his without problem and then Arestidou had saved McGeechan's effort.

Nick Blackman put Rovers 2-0 in front but Campbell scored his spot kick before Jason Lowe saw his penalty strike the underside of the bar and was ruled not to have crossed the line.

Aaron Mooy pulled Bolton back on level terms at 2-2 before Gunning and Marshall for Rovers and Eckersley and Bennett for Bolton all scored to send the sudden death. Bennett particularly fortunate to see his kick squirm under Arestidou and trickling over the line.

But Martin Olsson saw his effort saved full length by Bogdan which meant Adam Blakeman had to score for Bolton to win and he lashed the ball into the top left corner of the net leaving Arestidou no chance.

BOLTON: Bogdan, McDonald, Blakeman, Sheridan, Eckersley, Bennett, Mooy, Sissons, Obadeyi, Campbell, Harsanyi (sub McGeechan 46 mins).

Subs not used: Lainton, Michail, Gbemie, Pawley.

ROVERS: Arestidou, Simpson, Olsson, Khizanishvili, Gunning, Lowe, Doran (sub Marshall 65 mins), Marrow, Blackman, Villanueva (sub J. Santa Cruz 65 mins), Treacy.

Subs not used: Flynn, Swann, Haworth.