Monday 24 Jan 2022

Dion Charles nets first goal for Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers striker Dion Charles scored a spectacular first goal for the club when he volleyed home a last-minute winner as the Trotters recorded a 1-0 success at Shrewsbury Town at the weekend.

After the game the 26-year-old, who signed for the League One outfit from Accrington Stanley earlier this month, dedicated his first Bolton goal to his baby daughter Hattie who was born on Thursday.

“That goal just topped off a brilliant week for me and my family. I’m absolutely delighted,” Charles told the club website. “I can’t wait to get home and see them and tell them what a goal I scored.

“I had a great angle on it and I just knew as soon as it left my foot it was a goal and I just ran off into the crowd and celebrated with them.

“That’s why you play football. You want moments like that – last-minute winners and things like that, so it was very special for me.

“As a striker you want to score goals and once one goes in hopefully the floodgates open.”

Meanwhile, Blackpool’s Shayne Lavery was also getting his name on the scoresheet chalking up his ninth of the campaign as the Seasiders claimed all three points in a 1-0 home win over Millwall, while midfielder Ben Reeves was on target for Gillingham in their defeat at Wigan Athletic in League One.

In the Premier League, Watford and Leicester City were without Craig Cathcart (illness) and Jonny Evans (thigh) though Stuart Dallas played left-back as Leeds United suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Newcastle United, for whom Jamal Lewis was an unused substitute.In the Scottish Cup, Liam Boyce hit a brace in Hearts comprehensive 5-0 fourth round victory at non-league Auchinleck Talbot, while Liam Donnelly popped up with a winner at the end of extra-time for Motherwell who overcame Championship side Morton 2-1 at Fir Park.

“I was delighted to get the winner and get through to the next round after Morton gave us a difficult game,” said Donnelly, who missed the majority of last season with a knee injury.

“It’s a great feeling for me personally to get back on the scoresheet especially given the timing of it. There’s not much that’s better than scoring a goal in the last minute of extra time. 

“I’ve been out for a while and I’ve missed that feeling of when the ball hits the back of the net,” he added. “Hopefully there are a few more goals to come too.”

Elsewhere in the competition, the much-travelled Kyle Lafferty made his ‘second’ debut for Kilmarnock when he came on as a substitute in the 2-1 home defeat to Dundee United, however under-21 international Daniel Finlayson was part of the Kelty Hearts side that sprung a surprise by knocking out holders St Johnstone.

Former Glentoran Women striker Kerry Beattie made it two goals in two games as Glasgow City triumphed 4-0 over Spartans in the Scottish Women’s Premier League and Rachel Furness was also on the scoresheet for a second successive game as Liverpool Women maintained their seven point advantage at the top of the Championship with a 4-0 away win at Crystal Palace.

Finally, there is no stopping former Linfield striker Callum Marshall who found the net for the third game in a row as West Ham United U18s defeated Fulham 3-1, while on-loan striker Chris McKee opened his account for Linfield as the Blues defeated Glenavon 2-0 at Windsor Park.