STRATFORD Town saw their seven-game unbeaten run come to an end after the Bards were beaten 1-0 by Hitchin Town.
The Bards were beaten by Joshua Allen’s first-half goal at Top Field as Gavin Hurren’s side drew a blank for the first time in 11 matches.
And the result means Stratford remain one point and one place above the Southern League Premier Central relegation zone in 18th position.
Lee Vaughan was handed his Stratford debut in place of Aksum White as the Bards made a single change from the side that claimed an impressive point against Leiston.
The Bards felt they had a good shout for a penalty in the opening 10 minutes when Callum Ebanks had his shirt pulled over his head at a corner only for the referee to wave away the Stratford appeals.
And the away side’s misery was compounded on 27 minutes when Allen scrambled the ball home for Hitchin after Liam O’Brien could only parry Daniel Idiakhoa’s initial dipping 30-yard effort.
The visitors spurned a glorious chance to equalise on the half-hour mark when Ebanks beat the offside trap and saw his shot turned behind by Hitchin goalkeeper Charles Horlock.
However, the Bards were unable to create another chance of note as they slipped to a first defeat in over a month.
Stratford are next in action at home to Barwell on Saturday, April 1 with kick-off at 3pm at the Arden Garages Stadium.
