Horspath's batting failed to fire in a 97-run defeat at home to Oxford in Home Counties Premier Cricket League Division 2.
Having restricted the unbeaten visitors to 218-9 off 50 overs after putting them in to bat, Horspath collapsed to 121 all out.
With the match taking place under grey skies following overnight rain, Horspath's hopes of extracting early movement from the surface failed to materialise as Julian Laird and Vishane Perera put on 76 for Oxford's first wicket.
It was only when skipper Amin Rafig brought himself into the attack that the breakthrough came with his off-spin trapping Perera lbw for 25.
Jehan Mohammed was in the midst of a trademark tight spell and five runs later he was was rewarded by bowling Laird for 46.
Sravan Konidena boosted Horspath further with a brace of lbw verdicts, before leg-spinner Josh Richardson struck twice to make it 144-6.
Jack Hobbs stood firm, though, and reached his half-century before Konidena bowled captain Jack Wilkins to make it 174-7.
Richardson effected a run out, but Hobbs was aided by the tail as he took Oxford past the 200-mark before his fine knock ended when he was caught behind by Rob Wight off Konidena for 86 from the penultimate delivery to leave the visitors 217-9. His runs came off 95 balls and included five fours and five sixes.
Konidena finished with 4-41 and Richardson 2-40, while Mohammed produced the most economical figures of 1-29 from his 10 overs.
Viv Narayan, Division 2's leading runscorer going into the game following back-to-back half-centuries against Bicester & North Oxford and Slough, had shared a 120-run opening stand with Konidena on the latter occasion.
But any thoughts of a repeat were quickly dispelled when Konidena fell lbw to Dylan Swanepoel in the second over.
With Wilkins also providing few scoring opportunities, Horspath were finding it hard to make any headway and when Narayan was stumped by Louis Prestedge off Laird's left-arm spin, the home side were 39-3.
Rayaan Dogar, making his Home Counties debut after rejoining Horspath following a season at Oxford, shaped up well before being bowled by Laird for 12.
Richardson and Tom Nichols set about repairing the damage and had added 44 for the fifth wicket when the latter was run out by Perera for 20.
That sparked a dramatic collapse as the last six wickets went down for just 21 runs, including Richardson, who top-scored with 25 before being stumped by Prestedge off Laird, as the side succumbed off 41.4 overs.
Laird (3-14) was the chief destroyer, well supported by Swanepoel (2-13) and Adam Hamid (2-25).
Horspath will bid to bounce back on Saturday when they visit Wokingham, who made it three wins out of three with an eight-wicket victory at home to Slough.
Match highlights are available by clicking here