Blackpool Knock Out Bolton on Penalties to Reach Bristol Street Motors Trophy Semi-finals

Blackpool has ended Bolton‘s defense of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy by defeating the holders in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure a spot in the semi-finals. The match ended goalless after 90 minutes, leading to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout which Blackpool won 5-4.

Peterborough and Bradford have also secured their places in the last four with home victories against AFC Wimbledon and Doncaster Rovers, respectively.

The final semi-finalist will be decided on Wednesday when Wycombe faces off against Brighton Under-21, completing the line-up for the draw on Friday.

The semi-final ties will not be regionalized and will be played during the week commencing 19 February. The grand final of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy will take place at Wembley on Sunday, 7 April.

Bolton aimed to become the first team to secure back-to-back victories in the competition, but both teams failed to find a breakthrough in the regular time of their quarter-final match. The shootout saw both goalkeepers making two saves each before Bolton’s Zac Ashworth missed his side’s seventh penalty kick, allowing twice-winners Blackpool to seal their semi-final spot.

Peterborough’s passage to the next round was much smoother as they swiftly took control of their tie against AFC Wimbledon by scoring two goals within the first four minutes. Malik Mothersille opened the scoring by converting a cross from the left, followed by Ephron Mason-Clark adding a second from a tight angle.

A late goal from Ryan McLean gave AFC Wimbledon a glimmer of hope, but as the visitors pushed forward in search of an equalizer, Ricky-Jade Jones capitalized on the counter-attack to secure a third goal for Peterborough.

AFC Wimbledon’s exit means Bradford will be the sole representative of League Two in the draw. Harry Chapman’s second-half free-kick proved to be the decisive goal in Bradford’s all-League Two clash against Doncaster, although the Bantams ended the match with 10 men due to Andy Cook’s late sending-off.