Widnes 2-1 Cheadle Town
And bang goes our unbeaten record at the Select Security Stadium, albeit narrowly.
During the last 25 minutes of this match it looked as though we were capable of keeping it intact. As the 65th minute ticked over we sprang into life and almost clawed back a 0-2 deficit.
It was a dangerous-looking - and hastily-cleared - Chris Sherrington cross from the left that got us going.
From the resulting Luke Hincks corner all manner of mild mayhem ensued in the Widnes penalty box with the loose ball finding the feet of Liam Tongue, only for him to sky his effort.
Three minutes later Luke Hincks ploughed his way through the home defence before laying off to Chris Sherrington who sent in another dangerous ball that had to be dealt with quickly.
On the 78th minute we got our reward. Chris Sherrington was instrumental again, volleying the perfect cross from the left for Rick Whyatt to steal into the box and head home from close range.
Two minutes later Rick had netted what we thought was the equaliser but it had turned out he had literally given it a helping hand...and was booked for his efforts.
The introduction of isn't-he-usually-a-goalkeeper Dane Smith to the outfield gave us a bit of beef in the midfield but it sadly wasn't to be as the clock beat us.
But, as they say, the damage was done long before our impressive stint from the 65th minute onwards.
As early as the 7th minute John McIlwaine fumbled a corner from the left with Widnes' Chad Whyte gobbling up the loose ball at the far post with the hosts also sending a free-kick inches over and then hitting the post with a long-range effort before the half-hour mark.
They perhaps should have gone into the break 2-0 up but their no11 made a horrible mess of his chance when completely unmarked at the far post on the 38th minute.
In the opening two minutes of the second half, the perfect demonstration of the theory of "fine lines".
We had robbed Widnes of possession on the edge of their own penalty box but perhaps dallied that little bit too long with the ball with Rick Whyatt's resulting effort being blocked. One minute later, and up the other end, Widnes work a nice combination on the right before whipping a low ball in for Chad Whyte to sweep home his second of the match from close range.
A damaging defeat in more ways than one because, given the other results this weekend, in a blink of a mathematical eye the play-offs are now all-but out of reach for us.
With potential promotion and play-off contenders to face, we now become one of those teams where others look to us for favours. Good for them...but what we're concerned with now is the strongest possible finish to the season.
A trip to City of Liverpool on Saturday awaits.
TEAM: McIlwaine, Todd, Dunn, Russell, Tongue, Pearson (Crosthwaite), Hincks (Smith), Blackwell (Burton), Whyatt, M Sherrington, C Sherrington. SUBS: Smith (gk), Burton, Crosthwaite.
