Horspath's lead at the top of Cherwell League Division 1 was cut again after the last pair held out for a hard-fought draw against Cropredy at the Recreation Ground.
However, the side's advantage over Didcot is still a healthy 24 points with four games left as the format reverts to win-lose 50-a-side matches this weekend.
Having elected to field, Horspath had the visitors in early trouble at 28-3 with skipper Will Eason removing both openers, while Asad Rafiq added to his tally for the season.
The hosts were then held up by Tareq Jamil and captain Will French, who put on 76 for the fourth wicket, before Amin Rafiq took two wickets in four balls.
The Horspath off-spinner claimed a third victim and with leg-spinner Josh Richardson having Jamil stumped for 59 off 98 deliveries by Lachlan Biggs, the hosts were well on top at 118-8.
However, Jake Ayers then smashed 38 from 30 deliveries before Richardson and Biggs combined for two more dismissals as Cropredy closed on 172-9.
Amin finished with 3-36 from 17 overs, while Richardson picked up 3-56 and Eason 2-25.
Horspath stumbled to 34-3 in reply with Joseph Sparkes (3-35) doing the damage, before Biggs and Richardson got them on track with 62 for the fourth wicket.
But after Jamil bowled Richardson for 17, the home side never really threatened the target.
Biggs completed a fine half-century - his third in the league this season - before being caught by Harry Walters off Dexter Ainley for 53 to leave Horspath 125-7. His runs came off 84 balls and included eight fours.
With Ainley and Jamil claiming a third victim each to both finish with 3-35, Horspath were on the brink of defeat, but Jehan Mohammed (21no) and Asad Rafiq safely negotiated the last 10 balls to secure a draw at 152-9.
The side continue their title challenge at Cumnor on Saturday.
Skipper Ryan Hicks's five-wicket haul and half-centuries from Dan Todd and Dominic O'Connor gave Horspath 2nd a resounding eight-wicket win at Witney Swifts in Division 2.
Hicks fully justified his decision to insert Swifts by taking 5-31 as the hosts were spun out for 115.
Max Smith and Josh Cummings set the tone with a wicket apiece in tight opening spells to reduce Swifts to 7-2, before Hicks made his first impact with a run out to leave the hosts in disarray at 12-3.
But then father and son, Jason and George Seacole, put on 90 for the fourth wicket, before left-arm spinner Sam Leslie made the breakthrough.
He trapped Jason Seacole, the former Oxford United and Wycombe Wanderers footballer, lbw for a patient 21 to trigger an almighty collapse with Hicks to the fore.
The captain took centre stage with his left-arm spin as the last seven wickets fell for just 13 runs - and the last five for two - while Leslie bowled skipper George Seacole for a defiant 69.
Hicks hit the stumps twice, secured two lbw verdicts and had one victim caught to complete his fiver-wicket haul.
Todd and O'Connor then shared an opening stand of 98 as Horspath cruised to victory at 119-2.
O'Connor made 52 from 78 balls, while Todd hit 54 off 62 deliveries, each striking eight fours, before both fell lbw to Max Godwin (2-41).
It was Todd's fourth fifty of the season, including one for the 3rd XI, while O'Connor was completing a second half-century for the campaign.
The win moves the side up two places to fourth ahead of Saturday's home game against ninth-placed Shipton-under-Wychwood.
Horspath 3rd slid to an eight-wicket defeat at Great Brickhill 2nd in Division 3A.
Azlan Sharif (27) and tailender Saud Kaleem (23) were the only batsmen to show any resistance as the visitors were bowled out for 102 after being put in to bat. Arjun Jhala (6-24) and James Wagg (3-15) did the damage.
Ed Oakley (2-38) reduced Brickhill to 11-2 to give Horspath hope, but then Jhala (61no) and opener George Morris (32no) steered the hosts to victory at 106-2.
The defeat sees the side drop to the foot of the table, with a home game against third-placed Bledlow Village next up on Saturday.
Horspath 4th went down by six wickets at home to Wootton & Boars Hill in Division 5C.
Ben Wise (27) and captain Craig Wharton (24) made solid starts, but the side were bowled out for 133 after choosing to bat. Billy Webb (5-34) and Ben Jenkins (3-24) were the chief destroyers.
Nauman Amran (1-11) claimed a first league wicket for Horspath as Wootton replied with 134-4 as Lous King (44) and Webb (36no) led the way.
The side are away to third-placed Risinghurst on Saturday.