Colchester United slithered to their sixth successive defeat when losing to an early penalty against Wycombe.
United could have been two up before the visitors claimed what proved to be the winner in the fourth minute.
U's striker Kevin Rapley was twice denied by keeper Martin Taylor inside the opening minutes and when play switched to the other end, Wycombe were awarded a penalty for Mick Stockwell's foul on Michael Simpson.
Up stepped midfielder Steve Brown to beat his namesake Simon Brown with a cool finish from the spot.
It was a very open game, and the only surprise was that there was no more scoring.
Rapley was the chief culprit. In addition to those two early misses, he had countless opportunities. He had a first-half header ruled out for offside and could have bagged a couple more goals.
Former Notts County striker Rapley was at full stretch to meet a low cross from sub Dean Morgan with a header that thudded back off defender Paul McCarthy in the 63rd minute.
Time was running out when Rapley looked certain to score. Time seemed to stand still as he lifted a shot over the bar from Sam Stockley's header. It was a bad miss from United's striker.
Colchester, although playing fairly well, have now scored only one goal in their last six fixtures and ironically that was an own goal by Northampton's Ian Sampson.
Their manager Steve Whitton: "I'm bemused and shocked that we did not win this game. We could have won this game by four or goal goals, but that's the way it's going at the moment.
"We just have to keep being positive and I'm sure the results will turn."
This was Wycombe's second away win of the season, following an early victory at Oldham.
Chairboys manager Lawrie Sanchez said: "We rode our luck at times, but stuck with it to find the result."