Oldham vs Bolton

Bolton took control inside 12 minutes. Right-back Luca Stephenson delivered a cross from the right and Rodrigues rose to head home, giving the visitors an early lead.

Stephenson turned provider again on 23 minutes, this time with a low delivery that Rodrigues tucked in at the near post to make it 2-0.

Oldham had chances at either end of the half. Keenan Appiah-Forson went close, and striker Mike Fondop caused problems in the air with two headed efforts. But Bolton goalkeeper Jack Bonham was rarely tested before the break.

Steven Schumacher made four changes at half-time and introduced a further seven substitutes on the hour mark, disrupting the flow of the second half. Oldham pulled one back on 82 minutes when Calum Kavanagh converted a penalty after being tripped by Xavier Simons.

But Bolton restored their two-goal cushion four minutes later. Substitute Toby Ritchie played a fine pass through to McAtee, who curled a finish across Oldham goalkeeper Aston Wilson and into the far corner.

Rodrigues' second goal on 23 minutes effectively killed the contest. After falling two goals behind inside the first quarter of the game, Oldham faced an uphill task against a Bolton side that had already shown sharpness in possession and out wide. The double salvo gave Schumacher the freedom to rotate heavily — 11 substitutes in total — without ever risking the result.

Ruben Rodrigues (Bolton) — The star of Bolton's play-off final win in May looked sharp again. Two goals in 23 minutes, both finished cleanly from Stephenson crosses, and he also turned creator for David Watson's effort that was just off target. Subbed off on the hour.

Luca Stephenson (Bolton) — The right-back made a strong case for a starting role in the season opener. Two assists in the first half, one from a high cross and one from a low delivery, showing the width and quality Bolton will need in League One.

John McAtee (Bolton) — Came off the bench and scored a composed finish — a curled effort into the far corner — to wrap up the win on 86 minutes.

Player of the match: Ruben Rodrigues.

Bolton's first-half control was the decisive period. Rodrigues' two goals from open play, both created by the same full-back, reflected a clear pattern: Wanderers targeted the flanks and found space behind Oldham's defensive line. Oldham's goal came from a penalty after the game had broken up with mass substitutions, and Bolton's third restored the margin in open play late on. The fixture has historically been high-scoring — 16 goals in 5 H2H meetings, averaging 3.2 per game — and this match followed that trend with four goals.

Bolton's first win of pre-season builds momentum ahead of a tougher test: they face Premier League Everton at home on Saturday 25 July. For Oldham, this was their first pre-season friendly at Boundary Park, and they will look to sharpen up defensively before the League Two season begins. Both sides used extensive rotations — Oldham made 7 substitutions, Bolton made 5 — reflecting the early-stage fitness focus of pre-season.

A professional, controlled display from Bolton, who did what friendlies demand: sharp passages of play, clean goals, and heavy minutes spread across the squad. Rodrigues looks ready for the Championship-level demands Schumacher will place on him. Oldham had moments but were outclassed in the first half by a side two divisions above them.