County had the better of the first half at Altrincham's Moss Lane but neither 'keeper was really troubled before the break.

Dan Ellis had the game's best chance on 18 minutes when he shot low from the right of the box but Tom Brocklehurst made a comfortable save.

Six minutes before the break County almost took the lead when James Vincent's cross from the left deceived Brocklehurst but bounced to safety off the bar.

Bolton, who introduced former Hatters loanee Johann Smith at the break, started the second half brightly and could have taken the lead on 50 minutes when Temitope Obadeyi burst clear but pulled his left-foot shot wide.

County responded with a fine five-man move that ended with Ellis shooting at Brocklehurst from the edge of the box.

On the hour Leon McSweeney, who had shown some nice touches, was replaced by Paul Ennis.

Two minutes later Ellis did well to get on the end of Adam Griffin's cross to force a full-length save from Brocklehurst.

The Trotters thought they had taken the lead on 65 minutes when Robert Sissons shot towards the bottom corner, but Ben Imeson made a magnificent save diving to his left.

County responded with a Tansey free kick that dipped just over the bar.



Vincent wasted a golden opportunity when he went past two defenders in the box but then shot weakly at Brocklehurst.

The Hatters made a double substitution on 75 minutes with Martin Smeaton and Alex Elliott replacing Tansey and Vincent.

Smith was was unlucky to see his shot just miss the target following a blistering run from inside his own half.

Goalless at full time the game went straight into a penalty shoot-out.

Although Mainwaring and Chris Smalley both scored, the Trotters held their nerve to win 3-2 following misses from Morgan-Smith, Ellis and Griffin.

County: Imeson; Flowers, Smalley, Williams, Griffin; J Vincent (Elliott), Tansey (Smeaton), Mainwaring, Ellis; Morgan-Smith, McSweeney (Ennis).