Chelmsford City are set to face Salisbury City in the play-off semi-finals on Tuesday following a disappointing defeat at Farnborough in their final regular season game.
Jamie Slabber's late goal was the only consolation on a frustrating afternoon as a troubled Farnborough side walked away victorious despite midfielder Nic Ciardini starting in goal and playing much of the second half with ten men.
The loss means Glenn Pennyfather's team finish fifth in the table and enter the play-offs with a slight loss of momentum, having previously won their last four games on the bounce.
The Clarets strolled to a 6-0 win in the reverse fixture earlier this season and started brightly again, forcing Farnborough to clear off the line in a goal mouth scramble during the early exchanges.
The home side reacted well and should have broken the deadlock on 12 minutes when Reece Connolly was bought down in area. Dan Bennett stepped up but his penalty was denied as Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton got down brilliantly to his right to make a fine save.
There were chances for both sides as the half progressed but it was The Yellows who went ahead just before the break. Bennett raced clear of the Claret's defence and kept his composure to slide the ball into the bottom corner, atoning for his earlier miss.
Boss Pennyfather had rested a number of key players with next week's play-off in mind but made a triple substitution 20 minutes into the second half, which included top-scorer Slabber, as they searched for a way back into the contest.
The tie looked to have swung in their favour when Boro's Reece Jones was shown a straight red for a reckless lunge on full-back Joe Whight but it was the home side who were spurred on from the dismissal.
They frustrated the Clarets and looked dangerous on the break, eventually doubling their lead when Steve Laidler broke clear on the counter and fired into the top corner.
Laidler led the attack again on 90 minutes, this time taking the defence with him before selflessly squaring to substitute Josh Huggins who finished neatly at the near post to make it 3-0.
Slabber pulled one back for the visitors in the final move of the game, lobbing makeshift 'keeper Ciardini with a deft header which went almost unnoticed in the stands.
