Merthyr Town suffered more Southern League heartache, losing 2-0 against Hitchin Town at Top Field.
The Martyrs had an ideal chance to equalise after 89 minutes, but Kyle Copp’s spot-kick was saved and moments later Elliott Bailey fired his second goal of the game.
For more than an hour the match was goalless and Merthyr looked capable of earning at least a point.
But Bailey scored with a diving header after the visitors failed to clear following a free-kick and then added his second during injury time.
Merthyr were pushing forward in search of the goal they needed and Hitchin broke fast with Jonny McNamara and Trey Charles setting up Bailey for a tap-in.
It was a tough defeat for manager Gavin Williams and his players to take after their close-fought 3-2 defeat at Weymouth in midweek.
Merthyr had several strong penalty claims turned down and when they were awarded a scoring chance from the spot, for a foul on Copp, the chance was missed.
Copp took the penalty and goalkeeper Michael Johnson saved.
Curtis McDonald went close for Merthyr when he headed just wide from a Stuart Fleetwood corner while Johnson had to save efforts from Eliot Richards and from the experienced Fleetwood.
Merthyr increased the pressure on Hitchin after lively substitute Mo Touray went on and he cut the ball back to Richards, who sent his effort well over the bar.
Merthyr are now ninth in the Premier Division table, one point ahead of Hitchin, and badly need a win against Stratford Town at home on Tuesday (Loadlok Community Stadium, 7.45pm).
Manager Williams was given a pre-game boost when Curtis McDonald, Ian Traylor and captain Ashley Evans, who had all been rated doubtful with minor injuries were able to start.
But the Martyrs returned from North Hertfordshire with nothing to show for their efforts.
Hitchin Town: Johnson, Cotter, Walster, Dowie, Webb, Bickerstaff, Green (Charles), Smith, B Donnelly (Vincent), Bailey, McNamara. Subs not used: Brooks, C Donnelly, Syme
Merthyr Town: O Davies, A Davies, McDonald (Copp), Evans, Wright, R Patten (Touray), Jenkins, K Patten, Fleetwood, Richards, Traylor (Morgan). Subs not used: Tancock, Bowen, Morgan.
Attendance: 433
