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And to see Scunthorpe United as ball number 48 drawn away to Premiership giants Manchester City in the third round draw on Sunday afternoon, makes the narrow defeat that much harder to take.
Whilst there will be fans who'll remain adamant Terry Brown's side would have won if Tim Sills had been playing, having just one permanent striker on the books was always going to come back to haunt the boss at some point.
Failure to fill that place up front has been a thorn in Brown's side for over a year, but despite the obvious void it left in his side for Saturday's big Cup venture, the boss was left proud of those who went in search of a first ever third round berth.
He said: “I'm obviously disappointed but very proud of the boys, they played really well. I was pleased with the system, it suited us and on another day we could have scored a goal or two.
“In the first half we had two gilt-edged opportunities to have equalised and if we'd have got that this place would have been on fire and I think we'd have gone on to win.”
With Sills' usual strike partner of Ashley Vincent cup-tied, Brown opted for a 4-3-3 formation, pushing up Ahmed Deen and Nick Crittenden alongside John Turner, making his first start.
No one will ever know whether the Shots would have won had Sills been eligible to play, but the route one tactics and high balls into the area would certainly have worked to better effect had he been playing.
“It's no good harping on about Tim Sills, that was a poor refereeing decision a week ago, and we've got to play the next two games without him,” the boss continued.
“You should have enough ammunition in your side to get away with that.
“The difference was that they had people you felt would finish. When we had chances you didn't really know if we were going to stick it in — and sure enough we didn't.
“We got in their box enough times without ever really troubling their keeper, whereas Bully had to make three or four blinding saves.”
Make no mistake, however, this was an encouraging performance against a League One side, but, not for the first time in a recent Aldershot FA Cup campaign, you couldn't stop that nagging “what if” feeling.
On balance, there certainly didn't look two leagues between the sides and judging by the reaction of the Scunthorpe dug-out on the final whistle, the ‘Iron' were mightily relieved to have come through unscathed.
Andy Keogh's 13th minute strike proved to enough to separate the sides, although the Shots can take heart from a brave display which saw them pile forward and put their higher-profile visitors under pressure.
Despite another second round exit for Brown and his side, you can't help feeling that if they can carry this form into the League, that Play-Off place will certainly not be out of reach come April.
The Shots pressed right from the off but Scunthorpe looked threatening also wth 15-goal striker Billy Sharp shooting low into the waiting arms of keeper Nikki Bull.
Indeed, with the Shots just managing to settle into a rhythm, it was the Iron that found the breakthrough.
Brian Tinnion's wayward pass in the midfield found Neil MacKenzie, who subsequently passed to Peter Till on the right wing. Till's ball found Sharp and he crossed into the area for strike partner Keogh to fire into the net.
The Shots though responded well and came close to finding the leveller minutes later. Turner burst forward playing in Crittenden, his cross was met by Gary Holloway, who somehow missed the target from close range.
Holloway, amazingly still waiting for his first Aldershot goal, might have broken his duck again minutes later, only to agonisingly fail to connect with Turner's ball into the centre.
Keogh hit the side netting as Scunthorpe eventually made it out of their own half, but it wasn't long before the Shots were looking dangerous again.
Darren Barnard's cross-field ball perfectly picked out Holloway but again his tame header was aimed straight at Evans.
The Iron started the second half looking to double their advantage, testing the Aldershot defence with three corners in the opening seven minutes — a test which John Brough, Greg Heald and co passed with flying colours.
Indeed, when the ball did get beyond them, Bull behind them was in fine form also, first making an excellent block to deny Andy Crosby before being called into action again to prevent Sharp after Brough missed his clearance.
A third save, in denying Keogh on 65 minutes seemed to spur his side on and but for better decision-making from Turner at the other end, the Shots might have been level. The Cambridge United loanee decided to go it alone when a pass square to either Holloway or substitute Matt Gearing would surely have been the better option.
The biggest Rec crowd of the season, 3,548, were given more to cheer at the sight of Steve Watson coming off the bench for the last 15 minutes, returning for the first time since his groin opration.
With time running out Brown threw defender Tobi Jinadu on up front, but he was soon replaced in the final third by Heald after it became clear the plan wasn't working.
As it was, Bull had to make an incredible diving save to keep out 40-year-old Peter Beagrie's shot from the edge of the box — denying the veteran winger his 100th career goal —then thwarting a suspiciously-offside Till from wrapping it up when one-on-one.
The Shots though were to have one final chance to salvage something — fittingly from the boot of man-of-the-match Darren Barnard, whose fierce shot from 20 yards looked to have cracked it.
Keeper Tom Evans, preferred to experienced No.1 Paul Musselwhite, proved his worth however, with a fine stop thus breaking the Shots hearts.
With the cup now gone for another year, attentions turn to Saturday's league match with Southport — an equally vital clash for the boss.
“We've competed against a very good side and I want to take the positives out of it into Saturday's game. We've more than held our own with a League One side and if we can take that form into the League we'll be ok.
“Come the new year if I can sort my front pairing out then I'm sure we'll be a match for anybody.”
With thanks to the Aldershot News.