Newport County were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal after a late Fraser Horsfall strike condemned the Exiles to defeat at Northampton Town.
The Welsh club had several clear-cut chances to leave the Sixfields Stadium with all three points, but they lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.
This was a costly defeat in their bid for automatic promotion with James Rowberry’s side now four points off the top three.
Northampton started the stronger of the two sides, with Taylor Magloire forcing a save out of Nick Townsend.
The hosts continued to apply pressure, with Horsfall’s header cleared by Courtney Baker-Richardson, but they nearly caught Northampton napping at the other end of the pitch.
Dom Telford was denied by a good stop from Liam Roberts before Robbie Willmott’s shot was well blocked by Jon Guthrie.
The Exiles were lucky to get away with one a few minutes later as Northampton broke clear, but Louis Appere’s touch was too heavy as he blew the opportunity of a two on one.
Northampton then lay siege to the Newport penalty box during the closing stages of the first half, and the Welsh club survived by the skin of their teeth.
Sam Hoskins’ shot beat Townsend, but Newport were saved by a tremendous acrobatic clearance off the line by Mickey Demetriou to ensure the half finished goalless.
Newport were far better after the break as they looked to take the game to their hosts, with Telford being denied by Roberts after a fine through ball from Finn Azaz.
County dominated territory and possession in the second half, but they were always vulnerable on the counterattack, and they were let off the hook when Ali Koiki fired over at the far post with a volley.
Rowberry’s side were getting frustrated, with both Ollie Cooper and Cameron Norman shown yellow cards for fouls.
It was clear that one goal would decide matters and it was Northampton who got it when Horsfall’s right-footed shot beat Townsend with just eight minutes remaining.
But Newport refused to throw in the towel, with Roberts saving a last-gasp back-post header from Ryan Haynes, but it was too little too late as Newport returned to south Wales with nothing to show for their efforts.
