WE haven’t been able to say it often this year but Wanderers finally made three points look relatively easy in front of their own fans in a last outing of 2024.

Aaron Collins put them ahead in a scrappy first half against Lincoln City, who had started the day a place above Bolton in the table.

But when Ethan Erhahon got himself a second booking for dissent in two minutes of stoppage time, there was little doubt where the result was heading.

Jay Matete scored his first goals for Wanderers to give the scoreline a nice and comfortable look, meaning Ian Evatt’s side will go to Mansfield on New Year’s Day three points outside the top six with a game in hand.

Wanderers made four changes to the side that lost against Barnsley on Boxing Day, bringing Eoin Toal back into the starting line-up for the first time since he was injured at Stevenage in late October.

Josh Dacres-Cogley, George Johnston and Jay Matete also returned with Wil Forrester, Scott Arfield, Will Forrester and Gethin Jones dropping to the bench.

Pre-match discussion centred on Dion Charles starting another game off the bench, and given that neither John McAtee nor Aaron Collins had covered themselves in glory against Barnsley, the confusion was understandable.

But Collins would enjoy one of the two defining moments of the first half and would be halfway back down the tunnel by the time the second, a red card for Imps midfielder Ethan Erhahon, was flashed by ref Ross Joyce.

Lincoln’s form had been unpredictable in the lead-up to the game, particularly away from Sincil Bank, and Bolton’s own issues – highlighted by the patches of empty seats around the stadium – made for a nervous feel to the match.

The next grumble was never far away, be it a backwards or misplaced pass, a player dawdling in possession, or a cross blocked, the undercurrent of frustration was undeniable.

Wanderers never really got into top gear over the first 45 minutes, their attacks so often breaking down with the final ball or their shots charged down. On the one occasion they did get it right, however, it took the whole stadium a moment to register that they were due a moment to celebrate.

Paudie O’Connor got caught in possession by Matete and the ball dropped kindly for Collins who – having missed from four yards in his last appearance – managed to get his shot spot on from nearly 30 this time around.

Bolton were bitty, Lincoln were no better in the few times they threatened Nathan Baxter’s goal – Bailey Cadamarteri going closest with a shot driven into the side netting.

Collins blasted one more chance over the top before half time and there was a moment of panic in the visitors' box as Schon got around keeper George Wickens only to be crowded out before he could aim a shot at goal.

The Whites, or more succinctly, Ricardo Santos, have had history with referee Joyce. And, unfortunately, once again the Cleveland official’s pernickety take on the game spoiled the first half as a contest. For once, however, it was the opposition who were in his bad books, and Lincoln’s indiscipline always looked like costing them. Conor McGrandles was lucky to stay on the pitch for a poor challenge on Schon, two other players also followed him into the book, and then, during two minutes of stoppage time, Erhahon managed twice get himself cautioned for dissent, an act either of incredible Christmas generosity, or total lunacy, depending on your side of the debate.

Against 10 men, you fancied Bolton to take advantage. But it would have been a brave person to pick out Matete as the man to provide the goals.

The last time the on-loan Sunderland midfielder found the back of the net was five days after he had played for Plymouth against Bolton in the Papa Johns Trophy final in April 2023.

Within five minutes of the restart he had opened his Bolton account, driving a deflected effort past Wickens quickly after Thomason and McAtee had both wasted efforts close in.

There was nothing lucky about his second effort, which arrived as the finishing touch on a team move of 20-plus passes covering just about every inch of the Lincoln penalty box.

And Matete came desperately close to a hat-trick with another spectacular shot 15 minutes before the end which bounced off the crossbar and out to safety.

Charles did get his chance at that stage and snatched at one half-chance which dropped to him on the edge of the penalty area. Jordi Osei-Tutu also produced a bright late cameo, dribbling past three players before arrowing a low shot, touched around the post by the keeper.

Every Matete touch in the final 10 minutes was met with a cry of “shoot” from the Bolton fans but just as the game looked like it would wind down without incident, the fourth official showed a surprising eight minutes of time added on.

George Johnston was a little too unselfish trying to play Matete in for his third before Charles had a goal scrubbed out for offside.

Wanderers could certainly have used an extra boost to their goal difference but have once again responded to a disappointing defeat with a positive result. Their task for the New Year will be to stop this succession of highs and lows and produce the sort of consistency needed for a convincing promotion push.