United Reserves registered a first home league win of the season on Thursday night, thanks to a penalty in each half from Fabio and Federico Macheda.

England international Ben Foster was pressed into early action at Altrincham’s Moss Lane ground, making two saves in quick succession in only the third minute.

If the first was straightforward as he gathered a low drive from Bolton midfielder Robert Sissons, the second was spectacular. When his team-mates failed to keep possession, Foster back-pedalled to acrobatically tip Sam Sheridan's long-range shot onto the bar. The ball was loose on the rebound but fortunately Oliver Gill reacted quickly to nod it out for a corner and thwart the lurking Trotters striker Javlon Campbell.

That was in fact Bolton’s third notable shot on goal in an exciting start to this game, Tamir Cohen spooning his side’s first attempt over the net with Foster closing the space.

The crossbar at the other end was grazed by Rodrigo Possebon in the fourth minute. The Brazilian’s first-time shot almost capped a lightning counter-attack, after Foster released Lee Martin with a long throw and he fed Macheda to play in Possebon.

It was to be another Brazilian who made the breakthrough for United in the 26th minute; Fabio sending goalkeeper Adam Bogdan the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The kick was given after Richard Eckersley, on a bold foray into the Bolton box, was caught late by Zoltan Harsanyi after crossing the ball. This came at the end of a great move in which Macheda backheeled the ball into the path of Cameron Stewart, who then threaded a pass into the area for Eckersley to run onto.

Another foul was committed in the same penalty area just before the break; this time Macheda was the perpetrator on Bolton right-back Nicky Hunt and although Martin put the ball in the net for United, this 'goal' from open play was disallowed.

Referee Amy Rayner awarded her second spot-kick of the night in the second period when the lively Martin ran menacingly at Bolton defender James Sinclair and was then bundled over by his outpaced opponent. This time Macheda stepped forward to literally tap the spot-kick home; Bogdan again moving in the opposite direction.

Bogdan had earlier fared better to block Robbie Brady’s close-range shot, though he was well beaten – and saved only by the crossbar – when Matty James bent a brilliant left-foot shot beyond his dive.

After two draws, a defeat and a change of ground from Northwich to Altrincham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be relieved to have three home points in the league table.

United: Foster; Eckersley, Fabio, Evans, Gill; Stewart (Petrucci, 80), James, Possebon, Martin; Macheda (Norwood, 86), Brady (King, 66). Subs not used: Amos, Dudgeon.