Former Premier League striker Leroy Lita dealt Merthyr Town a bodyblow at the MetCoaches Stadium.
Zaire-born Lita struck with an injury time equaliser to earn Salisbury FC a 1-1 draw and deny the Martyrs a BetVictor Southern Premier victory.
Eliot Richards had fired Merthyr ahead in the third minute, while Lita’s late replay came in the fifth minute of injury time.
Swansea City paid Middlesbrough £1.75m for Lita in 2011 and he also played for Reading, Norwich City, Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton.
Defender Jarrad Wright has made a landmark 250th appearances for Merthyr, while Lee Lucas, whose cross set up Richards for his goal against Salisbury, has played 50 matches.
Richards hit the Salisbury net against when he chipped the goalkeeper only to be denied by an offside decision.
Merthyr now focus on their BuildBase FA Trophy tie against Cinderford Town at their Causeway ground in the Forest of Dean on Saturday.
They go into that clash without Tom Meechan, who has left the club. Former Newport County player Meechan, aged 28,
Meechan, a sports and exercise degree graduate from University of Birmingham, works as a maths teacher at Wyedean School, Gloucestershire.
He scored 53 goals in. One season playing for Godmanchester, including 34 in the league, netted 21 for St Neots Town in the following campaign.
He was signed by Newport County on 18 February 2016 at the age of 25.
A statement by Merthyr Town said: “Merthyr Town can confirm the departure of attacking player Tom Meechan.
“Everyone at the club and manager Gavin Williams wish Tom all the best for the future.”
Merthyr Town: Alex Harris, Dan Summerfield, Adam Davies, Ashley Evans (capt), Jarrad Wright, Kyle Patten, Kieran Lewis (Owain Jones 64), Lee Lucas, Gethyn Hill, Eliot Richards (Jamie Veale 74), Ian Traylor (Ryan Prosser 83). Subs not used: Cameron Clarke (gk), Corey Jenkins.
BetVictor Southern Premier South
| Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | -Pts | Pts | ||
| Tiverton Town | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 38 | 18 | 20 | 29 | ||
| Truro City | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 13 | 12 | 29 | ||
| Chesham United | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 28 | 20 | 8 | 28 | ||
| Salisbury | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 19 | 9 | 25 | ||
| Taunton Town | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 25 | ||
| Poole Town | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 23 | ||
| Gosport Borough | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 22 | ||
| Swindon Supermarine | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 21 | ||
| Weston-super-Mare | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 25 | 18 | 7 | 19 | ||
| Merthyr Town | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 19 | ||
| Metropolitan Police | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 23 | -4 | 17 | ||
| Blackfield & Langley | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 19 | -3 | 16 | ||
| Hartley Wintney | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 16 | -4 | 16 | ||
| Wimborne Town | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 22 | -4 | 15 | ||
| Harrow Borough | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 21 | -4 | 15 | ||
| Farnborough | 13 | 5 | – | 8 | 13 | 26 | -13 | 15 | ||
| Hayes & Yeading United | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 21 | -2 | 14 | ||
| Walton Casuals | 13 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 25 | -9 | 13 | ||
| Yate Town | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 27 | -10 | 13 | ||
| Dorchester Town | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 29 | -12 | 12 | ||
| Hendon | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 22 | -6 | 10 | ||
| Beaconsfield Town | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 23 | -14 | 8 | ||