Brackley Town fell at the final hurdle in their race to reach the highest stage of non-league football with defeat to Halifax in a record-breaking final.
Lee Gregory scored the only goal of the game at St James’ Park as the Shaymen won the Blue Square Bet Conference North play-off final 1-0.
It means Halifax head to the Blue Square top table while Brackley, who played this game in front of a record attendance of 2,604, return to the drawing board.
The brightest moments throughout the game were usually generated by Halifax winger Dan Gardener, who twice opened up the home defence in the first 10 minutes.
A quick break and shot from the left wing was mirrored by one off the opposite flank from the impressive Gardener, who also volleyed narrowly wide on the stroke of half-time.
Both sides seemed to struggle with nerves and the wet and slippery conditions also contributed to a tense and tight affair.
Brackley were happy to stay in the contest at moments like the time Sean Williams cut a shot goalwards 10 minutes after the interval, Curtis McDonald stretching across to make the block.
At that point, Halifax were completely on the front foot and a conversion of that dominance into a scoreline advantage appeared to be inevitable.
It came with 15 minutes to go and, to the surprise of precisely nobody, Gardener was central too it.
His piercing run down the inside-left channel ended with a shot that Billy Turley managed to parry but only as far as Gregory, who rattled into the empty net.
Stung by the goal, Brackley made a double substitution, replacing both strikers in an attempt to recover the tie.
But Halifax tails were up and they finished the game in the ascendancy, almost scoring a second when Gregory beat Turley to a high ball and substitute Adrian Moke drove the follow-up wide.
Visiting oalkeeper Matty Glennon had to make an excellent late save to deny Steve Diggin but it was his only real work of the afternoon.
Although Halifax’s superiority only manifested itself in short spells, there can be no doubt the correct team won.
Brackley Town: Turley; Odhiambo, Sharpe, Austin, McDonald; Reid, Solkhon, Walker, Winters; Mulligan, Louis
Subs: Diggin (for Mulligan 78), Robinson (for Louis 78), Story (for Odhiambo 84)
Not used: Nisevic, Walker
FC Halifax Town: Glennon; Toulson, Hogan, Lowe, MacManus; Gardener, Needham, Williams, Pearson, Gregory; Johnson
Subs: Bolton (for Toulson 46), Moke (for Johnson 73)
Not used: Senior, Worthington, Seddon
Attendance: 2,604