“AT two minutes past three I gave a goal kick, and all hell broke loose.”

Referee David Ellison was the unlucky man charged with keeping the powder keg dry as old foes Bolton Wanderers entertained Wolves at Burnden Park in a battle of two heavyweight sides with designs on reaching the Premier League.

Since the play-off semi-final in 1995, when Bruce Rioch ordered a “cauldron of noise” from the Bolton supporters to see them to Wembley, their route aided by a “wee push” from John McGinlay on David Kelly, relations between the two clubs had been somewhat strained.

Burnden, the famous ground staging its final season, had played host to some explosive footballing theatre in its 102-year history but surely no 90 minutes proved as visceral as this one.

Ellison only issued three yellow cards on the day – and The Bolton Evening News’s report of the day went to great lengths to say this was not a dirty game, by any stretch – but the melee which occurred a few moments after McGinlay’s opening goal will live long in the mind.

Bolton midfielder John Sheridan provided the unknowing spark when he claimed a penalty for a late challenge on Nathan Blake by Dean Richards.

Mark Venus pulled at the midfielder’s shirt, and within seconds 22 men had converged for what is now described as “The Battle of Burnden Park”

After the game, referee Ellison showed remarkable restraint.

"I am not going to report it. What can I say? I just didn't see what happened.

"I just called the two captains together and told them it was a situation for common sense.''

The tension had been high even before a ball got kicked. McGinlay had painkilling injections before and during the game to make sure he was involved, and the Scot made sure he stirred the pot with a couple of cheeky waves towards the unappreciative away supporters before kick-off.

Bolton led 1-0 at half time through McGinlay’s header when Lofty the Lion joined in the gamesmanship. His two-minute dance routine at the interval was performed right in front of the away end. Many good pies were lost in frustration.

Colin Todd’s side had the psychological advantage and Curle’s concentration lapsed when he volleyed a deep cross from Gerry Taggart past his own goalkeeper, Mike Stowell, to double the Whites’ lead.

Four minutes later, Nathan Blake got in on the act, racing in for his 18th goal of the season and Bolton’s third of the afternoon.

There were further flashpoints, as Taggart squared up to Wolves talisman Steve Bull, and having to be separated by team-mates.

The game was long since won, however, and the tiring visitors were indebted to keeper Stowell for a stunning save at the end from Sheridan after Scott Sellars had sliced through the defence with a mazy run.

Jamie Pollock had made only his second start at Burnden since a £1.5million move from Middlesbrough, replacing the suspended Per Frandsen.

"In games like that there is only one way to win - and that's with team spirit," he said after the game.

"It was a tremendous win and a fabulous battling performance because Wolves are a big strong team and we have humbled them.

"They asked us a lot of questions in the first 20 minutes when we had to hang in there and battle. We showed a side of us that you need if you are going to be successful.

"We've now kept two clean sheets in succession and that's as important as scoring three goals."

Wolves boss Mark McGhee also acknowledged his side had been well beaten, not just over 90 minutes but in the title race too.

"I think they won the league with this victory," he declared.

"They will win the league. On that form there is no-one who can touch them and the rest of the teams are chasing the next five places.

"I thought we might lose before the game but I thought we would do better than we did.

"It reinforces what I said after our first game that they are the best side in the division by a long way.”

Todd, whose team would lift the trophy and bid a proper farewell to Burnden a few months later, could barely hide his delight and vanquishing one of the biggest promotion rivals in such a swaggering fashion.

"We showed our steel," he enthused. "And when people say we can't keep a clean sheet we have proved them wrong. That's two in two games and we have to keep it going.

"We've got 18 games to go and we're in the driving seat.

"The players did their talking on the pitch to make Wolves look indifferent. Taggart was colossal but if I'm looking to pick out players I could go right through the team."