Bolton Wanderers 5 Darlington 3 (agg: 6-4)

BOLTON won a Worthington Cup thriller against much-fancied Third Division outfit Darlington to book a passage to round two.

Level from the first leg, Bolton went two goals up inside six minutes through an own goal from ex-Rover Adam Reed and Ricardo Gardner's first strike of the season.

Darlington refused to be daunted and drew level through a brace from Lee Nogan.

But Bob Taylor soon had Wanderers back on track. The veteran striker, who missed 20 minutes of the first half having stitches in a head wound, rifled Wanderers' third just after half-time.

Five minutes later midfield ace Per Frandsen netted with a sweet free-kick from the edge of the box and fellow countryman Michael Johansen consolidated Bolton's advantage by burying a penalty. Marco Gabbiadini came up with Darlington's third quarter of an hour from time but by that time the tie was safely in the bag for Bolton.

Wrexham 0 Preston North End 2 (agg: 0-3)

STEVE Basham returned to the Racecourse Ground last night and showed Wrexham exactly what they had been missing.

Wrexham decided against buying Basham when the young striker played five games on loan a couple of seasons back.

But the former Southampton hitman cost them more than a small transfer fee last night as he celebrated his first start of the season for Preston by dumping his former team-mates out of the Worthington Cup.

Returning to action after a lose season hernia operation, he opened his account after just 11 minutes.

Added to the 1-0 lead from the Deepdale leg, North End never looked in danger of letting the tie slip away and Basham's strike partner Jon Macken confirmed Preston's ticket into round two with a well-taken goal five minutes into the second half.

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