Chester FC were relegated in the cruelest of finishes as an equaliser four minutes from time saw them drop out of the Conference Premier on goal difference.
Late goals and defensive lapses have been an all too common problem over the 46-game season and it was a horribly familiar tale on the final day of the season.
Steve Burr's side led twice to put them on course for survival, but mid-table Sailsbury City refused to roll over and cancelled out both goals to leave the Blues' fate resting on the result from the Recreation Ground.
Hereford United won 2-1 with Michael Rankine netting the winner with two minutes left, meaning the two goal difference between the Blues and the Bulls proved pivotal.
A horrible silence fell over the Swansway Chester Stadium in time added on as the reality of the situation hit home but the two points dropped against the White was not the reason for relegation.
Over the course of the season, the Blues have not been consistent enough and have lacked the resolve to see out too many games.
Now the club must take stock, learn from the past 12 months and prepare for life in the Conference North.
Far greater mountains have been conquered since the club reformed in 2010 and to have come so far in four years is testament to the passion and drive of all involved.
And that passion and drive will see the club return in the future.
There can be all kinds of possibilities and permutations going into the final game but the situation was pretty clear for Burr and his squad: win and the Blues would be safe, draw or lose and relegation would beckon if Hereford won at Aldershot.
Having produced arguably the best performance of the season at Cambridge United on Easter Monday, Burr would perhaps have liked to name the same side.
But injuries forced him into two changes, with George Horan and Andy Griffin missing out and Michael Kay and Matty Brown coming straight back after suspension.
Whites boss Darrell Clarke kept faith with the team which beat Welling United last time out with Charlie Sheringham - son of former England forward Teddy - partnering Jamie White up top.
Chester found themselves under pressure right from the kick off and hardly had a kick in the opening five minutes.
Home keeper Aaron Chapman made the first save of the game on six minutes, holding on to a firm strike from White before dangerman Elliot Frear blasted over after the Blues failed to deal with a throw in.
Burr's side took a while to settled but eventually got into the contest with Danny Carlton scuffing wide from 20 yards and John Rooney drilling inches wide from even further out.
Chester went in front on 15 minutes when the Whites back four headed clear and midfielder Jason Jarrett fired in a shot from 30 yards, which Carlton diverted beyond keeper Will Puddy.
Taking the lead eased some of the pressure on the hosts and the pace of the game dipped a little after a lively beginning.
Salisbury attempted to manoeuvre the ball through midfielder Stuart Sinclair as much as possible, while the home side looked to create openings in wide areas.
A slower tempo suited the visitors and it was not too much of a surprise to see them draw level on 37 minutes when Sinclair whipped in a corner and Sheringham was allowed to head home unchallenged.
Chester found themselves pegged further and further back as the half wore on and the visitors wasted some fine chances to go ahead.
Chapman beat out Theo Lewis' thumping drive from 15 yards and Sheringham should have found the target with a back post header but could not keep his effort down.
Chester were hanging on and the half time whistle would have been a huge relief for Burr, giving him an opportunity to get things back on track.
A double substitution during the break was evidence that the manager was less than impressed with what he had seen as Gareth Seddon and Craig Mahon replaced Jamie Menagh and Paul Linwood.
Despite the changes, it was the visitors who continued to dominate in the opening stages of the second period.
Chester looked very nervous with the ball and vulnerable without, and the Whites took full advantage and the mood became ever edgier.
A spark was badly needed and it arrived on 58 minutes from the right boot of Rooney when Jarrett rolled the ball to the attacking midfielder and he curled a wonderful shot into the back of the net.
It was an outstanding goal and one that lifted the atmosphere inside the ground, although the visitors kept on coming.
Stuart Sinclair saw his powerful strike whizz past the post and Chapman held onto a snap-shot from White after a short corner.
Salisbury were keeping hold of the ball much better than the Blues and Burr threw on the fresh legs of Craig Hobson for Carlton, who had played his part once again.
Hobson had a unpleasant welcome to the game, being smashed in his first tackle in a challenge that earned Whites sub Angus MacDonald a booking.
Seddon, whose introduction had made a huge difference, struggled on with his broken toe as the game moved into the closing stages.
Chester began to look to wind down the clock and went close to adding a third when Seddon's attempted chip landed on the roof of the net.
As has so often been the case this season, there was an unwelcome sting in the tail. Frear knocked Kevin Amankwah's deep cross back into the danger area and White levelled.
Burr's side pressed forward once again and came agonisingly close to regaining the lead when Puddy tipped another Rooney curler onto the crossbar and Seddon fired the rebound into the side netting.
Seddon forced Puddy into another save with a half volley from 25 yards as news of Hereford going ahead at the Recreation Ground filtered through.
Four minutes of time added on came and went, as did rumours of an Aldershot equaliser, and the clock ran down to send the Blues out of the Conference Premier.
Chester FC: Chapman, Kay, Linwood (Mahon 45), Brown, McIntyre, Turner, Jarrett, Bond, Menagh (Seddon 45), Rooney, Carlton (Hobson 78).
Subs: Danby, Ashworth.
Goals: Carlton 15, Rooney 58.
Salisbury City: Puddy, Amankwah (Fitchett 88), Dutton (MacDonald 75), Wilson, Brett, Lewis, S Sinclair, McPhee (R Sinclair 61), Frear, Sheringham, White.
Subs: Roberts, Wellard.
Goals: Sheringham 37, White 86.
Booked: Lewis, MacDonald.
Referee: Adrian Holmes (Castleford)
Attendance: 3,588.
