Ian Evatt seals 100th win as Bolton boss after edging past Leyton Orient

Posted Sunday, December 24, 2023 by PA

Ian Evatt celebrated his 100th win as Bolton boss with Wanderers recovering from back-to-back Sky Bet League One defeats to beat Leyton Orient 3-2.

Evatt, an age-group cricketer for Warwickshire, was marooned on 99 not out after losses to Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers.

But he reached his ton as Bolton hit the opposition for three in the opening 10 minutes and despite a second-half Orient revival.

Josh Dacres-Cogley netted after three minutes to put Wanderers in front. Orient fell further behind four minutes later as Northern Ireland international Dion Charles registered his 16th goal of the season for club and country.

Charles then turned provider for George Thomason whose first shot was saved by Sol Brynn, only for the midfielder to net the rebound.

Former Trotter Darren Pratley was one of two substitutes introduced at half-time to give Orient a more competitive edge.

Shaq Forde reduced his side’s arrears after 55 minutes and Theo Archibald scored a spectacular second five minutes later, but Bolton held on for Evatt to seal the landmark victory.