Lincoln boasted one of the division’s best defensive records last season but were unpicked by two set pieces – Jack Iredale heading his first goal for Bolton in the first half, then Victor Adeboyejo following suit after the break. Paudie O’Connor then completed a tough day for the Imps by diverting a Kyle Dempsey cross into his own net.
Wanderers fully deserved the points and their biggest margin of victory on the opening day of a season since putting four past QPR in the Premier League back in 2011.
Ian Evatt had pledged to add more attacking edge over the summer and while there were spells of the game where Bolton had to be patient to pass their way through their stubborn visitors, they looked sharp, particularly in the wing-back areas where debutant Josh Dacres-Cogley and Randell Williams stood out.
Wanderers gave a first start to keeper Nathan Baxter and Dacres-Cogley, with new signings Carlos Mendes Gomes, Will Forrester, Paris Maghoma and Zak Ashworth on the bench.
Things could hardly have got off to a better start when Iredale headed home Aaron Morley’s fourth minute corner to give his side the lead.
The Australian was starting his first game since January, having missed the second half of last season with a knee injury, and his last goal had come in Cambridge United colours in October 2021.
Lincoln had the occasional pot-shot at Baxter’s goal – Ben House coming the closest with a 20-yard effort which hit the side-netting – but Wanderers otherwise had things entirely their own way.
Evatt’s side had 72 per cent of the possession in the first 45 minutes and put eight shots in on goal but, crucially, Iredale’s header was the only one on target.
Randell Williams got his head to a deep cross from Dacres-Cogley shortly before the break, failing to direct his effort under the crossbar, and Dion Charles drifted another curling shot from distance just past the post.
Both Charles and his strike partner Victor Adeboyejo worked hard, winning plenty of the ball in the Lincoln half, but the clear-cut chances remained frustratingly elusive.
It was the Northern Ireland international who had the first chance after the restart, a volley just over the bar after a cute piece of control to lift the ball over defender Jackson.
Wanderers kept the pressure on, Williams – who was at the heart of everything good Wanderers were doing in the Lincoln half – had one shot deflected on to the roof of the net.
Lukas Jensen pushed one dipping shot from Aaron Morley around the post and then got fingertips on a Dacres-Cogley cross to prevent Ricardo Santos from heading into an empty net.
Lincoln finally buckled under the pressure and conceded the second after Williams’ corner on the left was met by Adeboyejo, who had got ahead of his marker.
Wanderers still looked hungry, none more so than George Thomason after replacing Josh Sheehan. Demanding the ball from his defenders, he set Dempsey away on the left with a sumptuous first touch – and his low cross was turned past his own keeper by Paudie O’Connor.
Evatt had the luxury of sending on four more subs, including debuts for Gomes and Maghoma, as the play slowed down to a crawl towards the end. In total, more than 105 minutes were played, including injury time.