The Trotters, who hammered Plymouth 4-0 in last season’s showpiece, met fellow in-form side Stockport County to decide who would win Northern Group E.
Both teams had already qualified for the knockout stages, but it was Bolton who clinched top spot – and a home tie in the last 32 – with a 2-0 success thanks to a double from Icelandic ace Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (37 & 45+1 minutes).
Boss Ian Evatt, who had to watch the game from the directors’ box as he served a one-match touchline ban, told the club website: “I was really pleased with the players’ attitude and the commitment to the game we played.
“Knowing that we had already qualified, knowing there was an international break coming and the tough league fixtures we’d had, their attitude to work and to the game was fantastic, first-class, and our fans turning out like that, they deserved that and deserved us to treat it properly.
“It was amazing that our fans travelled in those numbers (1,539) for this type of game. Great credit to them. It was a pleasure to listen to them singing and watching us play like that. It was a really enjoyable evening.
“It was a professional performance and the only critique is that we should have scored more. Other than taking our chances, everything went to plan. We are pleased to be in the next round with a home draw to come.”
Stevenage and Reading both powered to 5-2 home victories, against Crystal Palace U21s and Arsenal U21s respectively.
It was a good way for Boro to bow out of this season’s competition, finishing third in Southern Group C.
There was an all-action start with Stevenage 3-2 up after just 22 minutes.
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