Hammers finally nail Bolton - 16 Mar 06

Bolton's hoodoo over West Ham has finally come to an end after Alan Pardew's side needed extra-time to secure an FA Cup quarter final place as reward for an entertaining 2-1 win.
Marlon Harewood's 50th goal in claret in blue came in the fifth minute of extra-time and was enough to secure a meeting with Manchester City in the next round, after Kevin Davies' first half leveller had cancelled out a calamitous own goal that saw Nicky Hunt smash the ball against Jussi Jaaskelainen for a comical opener.
These two sides met 83 years ago in the first FA Cup final played at Wembley and whilst the Twin Towers are redundant this season, a trip to Cardiff remains a possibility for West Ham after a closely fought affair in the capital.
The first period had all the ingredients of the quintessential cup tie as those inside Upton Park bore witness to goals, spurned chances and the odd tackle that may have left an impression on Thursday morning.
Both sides play the type of high octane football that is at times even exhausting to watch and it was no surprise that the first chance arrived as early as the first minute, when Jay Jay Okocha sent in a long-range warning for West Ham.
The first opportunity may have fallen Bolton's way but the first goal was for the home side and when it arrived in the ninth minute it was the culmination of some bright play, allied by some woeful defending on their visitor's part.
Nigel Reo-Coker's astute through ball played in Harewood down the right and from his drilled delivery Hunt seemingly tried to put the ball over his own bar but instead, only managed to inadvertently side foot it against his own goalkeeper Jaaskelainen and into Bolton's goal.
Thereafter and the contest was an open affair punctuated by the odd spat of grumpiness that saw Harewood warned by an over-worked referee and then Kevin Nolan and Matthew Etherington booked for comparing handbags.
Gary Speed made a characteristic break in search of a leveller but his touch was heavy when well placed before Dean Ashton cut inside his marker and from the edge of the area brought a sprawling save from Jaaskelainen.
While West Ham played perhaps the neater of the football, Bolton were creating chances of their own as in-form Stelios Giannakopoulos hooked a great effort over his shoulder but also the bar from distance.
Bolton's next effort, in the 31st minute, would not be wayward. Bright officiating let a foul on Abdoulaye Faye go unpunished and from the resulting ricochet, Nolan played the ball into the path of Davies and given a criminal amount of time Bolton's striker launched a strike from 20 yards that was truly hit but should have been kept out by Shaka Hislop, despite the ball's deviation.
Davies' leveller gave Bolton the impetus for the remainder of the half but it was West Ham that had the final opportunity of note when Yossi Benayoun broke from the shackles of Faye to exchange passes with Harewood but his angled drive was parried well by Jaaskelainen.
After the interval and little changed as both sides enjoyed pockets of play but neither could impose themselves fully on the proceedings. A marauding Ricardo Gardner had two half chances for Bolton on the counter but it was the home side that conjured the most presentable openings.
Harewood had a snapshot gathered by Jaaskelainen before the impressive front-man whipped in a devilish delivery that saw a diving Reo-Coker head for goal but his effort was repelled and from the rebound, Tal Ben Haim put in a fine block to deny Etherington.
An impressive Etherington threatened to open up Bolton but a last gasp Hunt intervention saved his side, followed by a Benayoun header from the same man's cross from the left.
A trademark Nolan volley rasped wide from the edge of the area, as in the latter stages Bolton's attempts for a winner also saw Davies and substitute Henrik Pedersen stab attempts over.
Extra-time needed just five minutes for Harewood to bring the home crowd to their feet as his darting run to the near post was found by Benayoun on the right and it was a calm finish that secured West Ham's progression.
Predictably the rest of extra-time was played in West Ham's box as Pedersen and Davies, again, had efforts wide and blocked respectively.
It has taken five attempts but Pardew's bright young side have finally beaten their adversaries from the north and it is their cup dream that lives on.