• Bolton v Stoke, FA Cup

Five-star Stoke romp into FA Cup final

Stoke celebrate Robert Huth's goal © PA Photos

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| Owen Coyle: All credit to Stoke | Tony Pulis: Thanks to the Chairman Bolton Wanderers 0-5 Stoke City

Three goals in the opening 30 minutes helped a rampant Stoke City into their first ever FA Cup final with a surprisingly one-sided 5-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers at Wembley.

Matthew Etherington opened the scoring for the Potters with a 20-yard drive inside the first 10 minutes, before Robert Huth doubled the advantage not long after. Kenwyne Jones took advantage of some questionable defending to slide home a third after 29 minutes, before Jonathan Walters beautifully-struck effort from outside the box effectively ended the match as anything approaching a contest with more than 20 minutes remaining.

Walters then added an extra flourish to the scoreline with a second goal from close range with just under ten minutes left.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle will have been disgusted by some of the defensive disorganisation shown by his charges, but equally Stoke proved in the manner of their goals that Tony Pulis' side are not the primitive, long-ball merchants they are often described as.

As the game got underway it was perhaps Bolton who were the more lively - Gary Cahill in particular firing one good opportunity over from the edge of the box - but after barely ten minutes they were behind to Etherington's fine finish.

In a build-up reminiscent of the goal that helped Manchester City through against Manchester United on Sunday, Stoke pressed their opponents deep in their own half and were rewarded as they got the ball back. With the defence in some disarray, Etherington made no mistake in dribbling towards the centre of the pitch and lashing home a left-foot drive from 20 yards that caught out Jussi Jaaskelainen at his near post.

Perhaps shell-shocked, it was not long before Bolton were two behind. This time the finish came from the unlikely boot of Robert Huth, who hit a first-time volley from the edge of the box that swerved away from Jaaskelainen and into the corner.

Kenwyne Jones enjoyed his goal, Stoke's third © PA Photos

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While Coyle did his best to raise his team from the sidelines, unfortunately things only went downhill from there. It was 3-0 before the half-hour mark, as Jermaine Pennant was gifted far too much space in the Bolton half, running all of 40 yards before slipping the ball through to Jones, who coolly opened his body and slide the ball around the onrushing goalkeeper from about eight yards.

It was a clinical display from Stoke, who had enjoyed few other chances of note outside of the three they had buried. But that too started to change, as both Jones and Walters wasted decent chances to go into the break with a four-goal advantage.

The second half was more reserved, as Stoke understandably sought to protect their advantage. But Bolton failed to make any headway in their pursuit of a route back into the match - with Cahill, Greitar Steinsson and Matthew Taylor wasting the best of what meagre openings they found - and they were soon punished for leaving themselves too open at the back as Walters stamped his own mark on the match.

His first goal only heaped the embarrassment on Coyle and his defenders, as the former Bolton player ran half the length of the pitch with the ball, before cutting back on his right foot about 25 yards out and curling a low drive that beat Jaaskelainen's hand at his far post.

Then, with the game long since out of reach, Walters added a fifth with a quick turn and shot inside the box, after David Wilkinson had failed to properly connect with Jones' inviting low cross.

Stoke's fans were left to celebrate wildly as the match meandered to a conclusion, while many of Bolton's travelling support headed disconsolately for the exit long before referee Howard Webb blew his whistle to confirm Stoke's first ever appearance in an FA Cup final in its long history.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.