Wimbledon's reshuffled squad was not able to take anything from the difficult trip to Hayes Lane and in truth Bromley deserved the win for their spells of dominance. Another injury and a red card meant neither Dons striker finished the match, making it a gloomy night on all fronts.

With both Butlers and Barry Moore ruled out through suspension, and Harvey injuring himself in a celebrity game on Sunday, Dave Anderson brought two players in from the reserve team to augment his squad. Jon Boswell, a young centre back who enjoyed a taste of first team action last season, and 29-year-old Craig Reilly were given seats on the bench alongside Sonny Farr, Sean Hillier and Josh Lennie.

The manager sprang few surprises with the starting XI he named; the trio of forced changes were as expected. Micky Woolner replaced Moore in midfield, Simon Sobihy replaced Steve Butler at the back and Shane Smeltz partnered Matt Fowler up front in the absence of Richard Butler.

Bromley have never been intimidated by facing the Dons and the hosts took the game to their opposition from the off. Sam Wood, a nemesis for Hayes Lane groundsharers Cray as Wimbledon lost their unbeaten run almost a year ago, was the early livewire. First he sent a volley narrowly wide after Stone beat Finnie to a header, then he was only denied by a last-ditch block on the edge of the penalty area with Little out of position.

Wimbledon rallied and could, probably should, have taken the lead after just five minutes. Plummer and Smeltz combined to great effect until the ball was squared to Woolner on the edge of the six yard box. But the midfielder took a touch rather than hitting his shot first time, and a sliding defender snuffed out the chance.

Little then needed his defence to hack the ball away as he dropped a cross under pressure from McDonell. But in the midpoint of the half a mad minute saw both sides come even closer to scoring the game's opener. First, Plummer's run up the wing allowed Woolner to swing in a dangerous low cross. Matt York ghosted in at the far post for a thunderous volley, but Walker got down well to block.

Immediately Bromley broke straight up the other end of the pitch. With Dons defenders backing off, Stone slide the ball through for Gardner. Totally free in the area, with only a scrambling Little to beat, the midfielder must have already been planning his goal celebration. He certainly wasn't concentrating on the shot at hand, as a terrible first touch allowed the goalkeeper to dive bravely at his feet and tip the ball away with an excellent save.

The game continued in an entertaining end-to-end fashion despite the swirling wind. McDonnell had another shot blocked, while Smeltz hit the woodwork with a header, but was penalised for a push. Little clawed an inswinging corner out from under his crossbar before the follow-up was headed harmlessly wide. With Bromley just shading the first-half action, Locke fired over from outside the box.

The Dons' threadbare squad was exposed before the interval, as Shane Smeltz went down injured on the halfway line and was unable to continue. Sonny Farr deputised in a more withdrawn role.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the Dons' bad luck run continued as well. Locke was tackled five or six times on the edge of the area, but every time the ball ricocheted back into his path. Eventually he was able to square the ball to McDonnell, who lifted a shot goalwards over Little. Howard scrambled back, but his lunge was unable to prevent the ball trickling in for a 1-0 home team lead.

Left with just one recognized striker, one assumes that a main theme of Dave Anderson's half-time team was the necessary imperative not to concede another. Sadly, that's exactly what his charges did. Slack marking allowed McDonnell a free shot. Little performed heroics to keep the ball out, but Wood gleefully smashed home the rebound for 2-0 with just a minute gone in the second half.

Hillier replaced Woolner as Dave Anderson pushed Daly further up the pitch in support of Farr and Plummer, who were both playing behind Fowler. But the next real chance fell to the home side as McDonnell was only denied a second by a fine Little stop, diving to his left. Plummer conjured a chance out of a Howard channel ball, tricking his way past Willy and pulling a low cross back into the area, but the ball feel agonizingly behind Fowler.

That slight anguish was as nothing compared to the moans that rent the air shortly afterwards. Plummer raced clear of the defence, wrong-footed his marker and left him in a heap, but then, having done all the hard work, sent his eventual shot over the bar. Walker looked relieved, as well he might. A clear let-off when halving the deficit would have put real pressure on the home side in the closing stages.

The chance of salvaging even a point disappeared with 15 minutes remaining. As the Dons waited to take a corner, the referee called Matt Fowler over and showed him a straight red card. This reporter has no idea what the offence was. Down two goals and two strikers, another disappointing journey home from Hayes Lane beckoned.

The referee's final whistle eventually sent the supporters back across London with no points, no goals and a growing selection headache. Here's hoping the Smeltz injury isn't serious and the suspended trio's return will be enough to turn matters round quickly against Windsor & Eton on Saturday.