The New Saints saw their treble dream die in an agonising penalty shoot-out defeat to Port Talbot Town.
Old nemesis Lee Kendall - a former Rhyl goalkeeper - saved one penalty before settling the shoot-out with the decisive spot-kick past Paul Harrison.
Defeat was harsh on the Saints, who are now becoming seasoned losers in dreaded shoot-outs.
It had all begun so brightly for TNS when Aeron Edwards broke the deadlock, with a 14th minute near range finish following a Chris Marriott cross.
The normally diligent Saints defence was caught napping for the Steelmen's equaliser, as Martin Rose headed home Lloyd Grist's 26th minute corner.
TNS trailed at the break with Harrison's poor clearance mopped up by Lee John, who rolled home the easiest of goals.
Port Talbot went close to increasing their lead before half-time, only for Matthew Rees to head wide from Grist's free-kick, while Edwards headed wide at the other end for TNS.
Edwards was influential in the Saints’ equaliser shortly after the break, with Alex Darlington allowed the simplest of tasks by netting from six yards.
Darlington was then denied a winner when his 81st minute, 25-yard free-kick was turned away by Kendall
Vastly experienced deadball specialist Scott Ruscoe was stunned to see his spot-kick saved by Kendall in the shoot-out.
When Chris Seargeant - a Welsh Cup winner with Bangor City - rattled his effort against the bar, it was left to Kendall to fire the Steelmen into the semi-finals and leave TNS to focus on the title race.
TNS: Harrison, D Holmes (Seargeant), Marriott, Baker, Evans, Hogan, Ruscoe, Edwards (McKenna), Darlington, C Jones, Wood (Berkeley)
PORT TALBOT: Kendall, De Vulgt, Grist, Thompson (Bansor), Rees, Surman, John, Barrow, Rose, Thomas, Fahiya (Holland). Subs: Wonnacott, Silva
Welsh Cup semi-final draw: Bangor City v Prestatyn Town; Bala Town v Port Talbot Town.
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