All four goals came in an incident packed first forty-five minutes.
Jared Borgetti and Johann Smith gave the hosts a two goal cushion inside the first quarter-of-an-hour but Keith Bertschin's side fought back with goals from Neil Kilkenny on 20 minutes and Oliver Allen on 27 minutes.
Bolton: Al Habsi, Hill, Mountford, Perez, Fojut, Ellis, Sinclair, Sissons, Borgetti, Smith, Stott. Subs: Augustyn, Kazimerczak, Thompson, Roddy, Luisi.
Blues: Legzdins, Cottrill, Sadler, Oji, Bruce, Price, Birley, Kilkenny, Allen, McPike, Motteram. Subs: Hinks, Blake, Hojsted, Mark Hall, Wright.