We've made a habit of winning the games late in this inaugural season of the competition. We beat Wigan on penalties following a 0-0 draw and then went on to beat both Crewe and Sunderland with late goals.
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| Man of the match performance from Steven Hewitt |
But it was nothing like that this time in a game where we were clearly the better of the two teams from start to finish and this time without first team fringe players such as Kevin Long and Danny Lafferty who have played in some of the previous games.
We were the dominant side throughout and the three goal win certainly didn't flatter us as some of our young players once more took the opportunity to impress some supporters and the back room team.
Surprisingly it was Bolton who had the first attempt of the game when goalkeeper Nick Liversedge's post dropped kindly for a forward. The goalkeeper saved well in what was his most difficult save of the night.
Burnley were soon into the game after that and two midfielders, Steven Hewitt and Cameron Howieson, came close to giving us the lead. Hewitt, my man of the match on the night after another very impressive performance, saw a free kick well saved before Howieson, hit a howitzer from almost forty yards that was only inches over the bar.
It really was a stunning effort from the New Zealander but the next time he got a sight of goal he gave us the lead. It came in the 27th minute when he received a pass from Hewitt on the edge of the box before and finished expertly although I'm sure we'd have been shouting for a handball had it been at the other end.
We might have got another when Ryan Noble burst clear down the right wing. His pace got him forward but he delayed the ball into the middle much too long and the chance had gone leaving us just the one goal in front at half time.
It just needed a second goal and you sensed we'd be easy winners and that came on 56 minutes following a corner. It was played to right back Cameron Dummigan whose cross was perfect for Jason Gilchrist at the far post and last season's leading youth team scorer made no mistake with a firm close range header.
On a night when our two Northern Irish full backs were again in fine form, one wasn't going to be outdone by the other. Dummigan got the assist on the second and Luke Conlan it was who brought about the third goal eight minutes from the end, Jamie Frost heading home is left wing cross.
So it's the last eight for the young Clarets, joining both Wolves and Man City who had previously beaten Everton and West Brom respectively.
The other five games are still to be played after which we'll find our opponents in the last eight.
The teams were;
Burnley: Nick Liversedge, Cameron Dummigan, Alex Coleman, Tom Anderson, Luke Conlan, Jason Gilchrist, Steven Hewitt, Archie Love (Nathan Lowe 80), Cameron Howieson, Ryan Noble, Jamie Frost (Brad Jackson 87). Subs not used: Danijel Nizic, Jack Errington, Kyle Brownhill.
Bolton: Jonny Sutherland, Hayden White, Glenn Matthews (Jordan Hendrie 60), Rob Holding, Cian Bolger, James Kelly, Chris Lester, Luke Woodland, Conor Wilkinson, Zach Clough (George Iliev 60), Tom Youngs. Subs not used: Sam Bailey, Thomas Walker, Jamie Hinchcliffe.
Referee: David Richardson (West Yorkshire).
Attendance: 251.