Walsden C & FC’s good run was ended by a goal five minutes from time at home to title-gunning Balderstone in the Rochdale Online Alliance.
Disappointed boss Dan Howley said: “We played quite well and should have won - we missed five or six good chances in the second half.”
Walsden took the lead after three minutes when the unmarked Jonny Sutcliffe rifled into the roof of the net.
Gary Brierley’s corner was punched off the line by the ‘keeper and Balderstone didn’t threaten until Paul Marrow cleared off the line.
Marrow’s cross was poked just wide by Barnes, a Sutcliffe cross just eluded Marc Walters and Brierley’s good header was saved as Walsden deserved their interval lead.
The visitors started the second half quickly. They caught out Walsden with a cross-cum-shot which sailed into the top corner and took the lead from their next attack, poor marking allowing the centre forward to score.
Walsden began to get back into it. Joe Gale intercepted the centre half’s square pass and shot just over with Walters free on the penalty spot.
Sutcliffe failed to control when trying to round the keeper and then Barnes shot tamely at the custodian.
A Sutcliffe effort was kept out by the keeper’s feet but the same Walsden player’s cross was met at the back post by Nathan Rooks and Walters forced the ball home.
Walsden pressed for a winner but Josh Gale and Marrow went for the same ball and it fell to the unmarked right winger, who crossed for the centre forward to slot home.
Walsden’s final home game is against King William IV on Saturday. Their finale is at Whitworth Valley onApril 19.