Bolton conceded three times in the opening 30 minutes at Wembley Stadium, with Stoke's Matthew Etherington, Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones all punishing shoddy defending.

Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was beaten for the fourth time inside his left post in the 68th minute when Jon Walters blasted into the net from 25 meters (yards).

Walter completed the rout with his second goal when Bolton's back-four was ripped apart again in the 81st.

After losing all three previous FA Cup semifinals, Stoke will return here on May 14 to face Manchester City, which also profited from poor defending Saturday to beat Man. United 1-0 in the other semifinal.

Both finalists are chasing their first major title since winning the League Cup in the 1970s, with Stoke triumphing in 1972 and City emerging victorious four years later.

With Man. City set to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League by taking one of the top five spots in the Premier League, Stoke could earn a spot in the Europa League regardless of the outcome of the final.

Stoke's luck in the FA Cup finally turned with a gift from Paul Robinson after 11 minutes.

A misplaced pass from the left back found its way through to Etherington, who had the space to dispatch the ball into the bottom right of the net.

Jaaskelainen was beaten in the same spot six minutes later when Gary Cahill's attempted clearance went straight to the unmarked Huth, who unleashed a first-time dipping volley past the 35-year-old goalkeeper.

Failing to rally from the double setback, Bolton's capitulation continued with the third goal coming on the half-hour.

Jermaine Pennant gained possession from Martin Petrov inside his own half and rampaged forward before squeezing the ball through Cahill's legs to pick out Jones, who had advanced into the penalty area unchecked and slotted home.

A header from Jones on the hour lacked the power to beat Jaaskelainen, but the fourth goal did come eight minutes later when Walters burst forward facing little resistance and sent the fierce strike into the net.

Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen didn't have a serious save to make until the 72nd when he denied Matthew Taylor.

But Bolton's misery was compounded when Jones galloped down the right and whipped in a cross that came off Andy Wilkinson before reaching Walters to score his second goal.