Wealdstone 0
Epsom and Ewell 1
For the first time this season, Wealdstone lost two games on the trot and failed to score at home for the second time in a week when beaten in the semi-final of the Vandanel Trophy by Third Division Epsom & Ewell, who showed more desire to win.
It was a second blow in four days after the weekend defeat at the hands of promotion rivals Met Police, and Gordon Bartlett's men now need to get their show back on the road for Saturday's showdown with highfliers Bedford.
The only goal came after 11 minutes when a powerful shot from Tomlinson was superbly saved by Darren Bonfield at close range, but the unfortunate keeper could only watch as the ball slipped under him and Tomlinson followed up to hit home with his second attempt.
Simon Garner, who started off brightly, had a fine shot saved by Hyatt, and Paul Benning went close with a header that flashed over the bar
Right on half-time, Kenny Gayle fired a shot that Hyatt kept out at the second attempt.
The second half saw Wealdstone trying for the equaliser, but to no avail.
Without Dominic Sterling, Paul Lamb, and Steve Bircham, all injured, and with Dennis Greene rested, they faced a difficult task.
In the last five minutes, Epsom twice came close to stretching their lead, but Bonfield denied them with excellent saves from Tomlinson and Owen.
After the Stones' unbeaten home record was ended by Metropolitan Police, it is difficult to see where the next goal is coming from. It certainly won't be easy against Saturday's visitors Bedford Town, who have the best defence in Division Two.
But manager Bartlett knows what he can expect after watching them in action in the other semi-final on Tuesday, when Bedford won 1-0 at Egham Town, one-from-bottom of Division Two.
WEALDSTONE: Bonfield, McKay, Walker, Moore, Waugh, Marshall, Gayle (Gomez), Jones, Celaire (Boreham), Garner (Yaku), Benning.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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