Harrogate Town somehow came away empty handed from Tuesday night's trip to Salford City, having twice been pegged back from a goal up.
Jack Muldoon had put Town ahead in the ninth minute, glancing Liam Kitching's cross into the bottom corner, but the lead lasted just two minutes as Danny Whitehead found the bottom corner from 25 yards.Kitching reclaimed the lead for his side in the 25th minute though, getting the final touch on Mark Beck's goal bound header, but Town would once again be pegged back.
In the dying stages of the first half, Rory Gaffney was afforded too much space and beat James Belshaw with a low shot.
Gaffney provided the decisive moment in the 57th minute, capitalising on a clever free kick to finish at the near post and strike a blow that Town could not come back from.
Simon Weaver made two changes from Saturday's 3-1 win over Braintree as Jordan Thewlis and Langmead were brought into the starting lineup in place of Ryan Fallowfield and the suspended Joe Leesley.
There was also a place in the squad for Dom Knowles for the first time in over two months with the striker having been sidelined recently by a foot injury.
It took Town just 20 seconds to register their first shot on goal as Captain Josh Falkingham collected a poor clearance and flashed wide of the post.
With nine minutes played, Muldoon headed Kitching's cross into the bottom corner only to look up and see the linesman's flag raised.
After deliberation between the linesman and referee, Town were awarded the goal with it being concluded Beck, who was in an offside position, did not impact Muldoon's finish.
The lead lasted just two minutes though as Whitehead found the bottom corner from 25 yards to almost instantly cancel out Town's lead.
It was end to end stuff at The Peninsula Stadium and Town nearly got themselves ahead for the second time four minutes later, though Jack Emmett's shot bounced back off the post.
Callum Howe was next to go close for Town almost finding the bottom corner with a left footed shot from the edge of the box after remaining forward from a corner.
Town had another set piece five minutes later and this time made it count as Kitching applied the finishing touch to Beck's powerful header from George Thomson's corner.
James Belshaw ensured Town held on to their lead shortly after as the Town stopper tipped Tom Walker's goalbound drive over the bar.
The game was being played at a tremendous pace in a truly end to end fashion with Town almost adding a third, firth through Falkingham, then Muldoon who had Chris Neal scrambling with a long range drive.
Neal denied Town's top goalscorer again not long after as, having skipped past his marker on the right wing, the Salford keeper made a good save at his near post.
Not to be outdone by his opposite number, Belshaw was once again in fine form as he made himself big to deny Danny Lloyd a clear sight of goal after a low cross from the left.
Despite such an impressive showing, Town were pegged back seconds before the half time whistle as Gaffney was found in space after a corner was cleared, where he was able to squeeze a low shot past Belshaw.
Ten minutes into the second half, Gaffney had the ball in the net for a second time after latching onto a through ball and finishing well, only to have been in an offside postion when the ball was played.
The flag stayed down two minutes later though as a clever improvised free kick resulted in Gaffney being played in behind the wall, where the striker was able to squeeze the ball in at the near post.
Now in the lead, Salford were happy to get men behind the ball and stifle Town's attack, while threatening on the counter attack through Walker, though the home number 11 couldn't find the finish.
Town were enjoying the majority of possession, but couldn't make it count with four minutes to play as Howe headed across goal to Beck, who couldn't keep his finish under the bar.
Town threw everything they could at Salford to try and take home a point, but couldn't find a way through and were handed a third defeat of the season.
Town: Belshaw, Falkingham, Howe, Burrell, Thomson, Emmett, Beck, Thewlis (Knowles 69), Langmead, Muldoon (Woods 69), Kitching
Subs not used: Fallowfield, Cracknell, Kerry
Goals: Muldoon 9, Kitching 25
Booked: Emmett
Salford: Neal, Wiseman, Touray, Maynard (Nolan 51), Pond, Piergianni, Lloyd (Politic 75), Whitehead, Rooney, Gaffney, Walker (Hogan 75)
Subs not used: Crocombe, Dieseruvwe
Goals: Whitehead 11, Gaffney 45, 57
Booked: Touray, Politic
Referee: M Woods