The winger, signed on loan this week from Derby County, slotted home in the first half in what looked like being a comfortable afternoon for the Whites.
But Wimbledon came back into it after the break and made them work hard for their three points, which puts some pressure on second-placed Lincoln City going into their game at Wigan Athletic.
Wanderers made three changes after the midweek win against Burton Albion with Rob Apter and Corey Blackett-Taylor both handed their debuts and Jordi Osei-Tutu also coming in on the right side of midfield.
Cyrus Christie and Xavier Simons dropped to the bench, with Aaron Morley having completed his move to Wycombe.
Bolton fans hadn’t seen a first-half goal in the previous nine games but Blackett-Taylor endeared himself immediately to the away fans with a calm finish from the angle after a rapid break involving Kyle Dempsey, Apter and John McAtee, his first league goal since netting for Derby against Norwich in September 2024.
It was also McAtee’s first assist in the league since March last year in the home win against Birmingham City.
Wanderers could have gone in at half time with the game already wrapped up. McAtee profited from a poor ball at the back from Ryan Johnson and had a clear view of Nathan Bishop’s goal, but his side-footed effort failed to beat the keeper.
The speed of Bolton’s counters was breathtaking at times, and Blackett-Taylor rolled another low cross inches past McAtee’s foot after slicing through again down the left.
Apter had a very good half, which would have turned into an outstanding one if he could have scored a goal his all-round play deserved.
After McAtee teed-up one shot on the edge of the box that was blocked, his quick feet fashioned space for another, curled inches over the crossbar.
Moments later, another fine flowing move ended with Blackett-Taylor picking out a perfect cross for his fellow new signing, who somehow failed to hit the target with the goal gaping.
That minor inconvenience aside, it was Bolton’s best half of football for some time. Ethan Erhahon was everywhere, Kyle Dempsey also thrived each time the ball was there to be won and McAtee continued his renaissance with another sharp 45 minutes.
Wimbledon came into the game after the break, Alistair Smith flicking one header wide and Marcus Browne sliding another shot past the post from the edge of the area.
Bolton defended manfully but unlike the first half they were unable to keep the ball for long enough to build an attack. What seemed like an endless procession of set pieces culminated in a big mistake from Chris Forino, playing out from the back, which Browne wasted with a shot high and wide from 10 yards out.
It took until the 66th minute for Wanderers to create any meaningful chance in the second half, that when Blackett-Taylor helped a cross on towards McAtee, who couldn’t direct his header on target.
Schumacher brought on Xav Simons and Thierry Gale, then Ibrahim Cissoko, and the Whites started to go through the gears again. Dempsey made a chance for himself from a throw in, outmuscling his marker Johnson and then bringing a save out of Bishop at his near post.
Bolton had a couple of penalty appeals turned down, Gale and Blackett-Taylor both going to ground and drawing a save from Bishop at his near post.
But with the score at 1-0, the tension refused to die down completely, and the Dons nearly grabbed an equaliser when Steve Seddon poked a shot just wide with five minutes remaining.
Chris Forino could have settled the nerves with a late header but in the end the Whites were holding on by their fingernails, a stoppage time corner sparking a scramble, with Jack Bonham just able to snatch the ball in the melee.
Keeper Bishop was sent up for a late free kick which brushed a Wimbledon head but ran wide of goal.