Horspath 2nd missed out on the Cherwell League Division 2 title in agonising fashion by a single point to Westbury, who claimed the crown following a 75-run victory in a see-saw decider at the Recreation Ground.
The hosts went into the game with a 16-point cushion over the Bucks club and looked on course to be crowned champions after inserting the visitors and reducing them to 103-8.
But then good knocks from tailenders Tom Wilson (51) and George Markham (49) frustrated the home side as Westbury posted 191 all out despite Ed Oakley returning impressive figures of 5-25 from 10 overs.
Even then Horspath knew that 125 would be enough for them to accrue enough points to finish level with the visitors and take the title by virtue of having lost fewer games.
However, the hosts then slid to 69-7, before Robbie Eason (51) and skipper Ryan Hicks (21no) inched them towards a crucial second batting point by adding 46 for the eighth wicket.
But in a tense conclusion the last three wickets went down for one run to leave Horspath 116 all out and Westbury champions.
It had all looked so different earlier in the day as the visitors' top order was blown away by Oakley, who picked up four wickets in his opening eight-over spell as Westbury slumped to 37-5.
William Gurney attempted to halt the slide, but when he was lbw to Joval Calix for 21 and Hicks and Sammy Parker chipped in with wickets, Horspath were still in the ascendancy.
But then Wilson and Markham turned the game Westbury's way. Wilson hit eight boundaries in his 65-ball knock, going to his half-century with a single before Oakley returned to bowl him with the first ball of his second spell.
It completed the seamer's second five-wicket haul in the league this season to go with his incredible 8-22 in the Pullinger Cup T20 final.
Markham marched on, though, and was one short of fifty in the last over when he fell lbw to Parker, who finished with 2-34, while Hicks's commendable figures of 1-24 from 10 overs saw him finish the season as the side's leading wicket-taker with 33 victims.
Horspath were soon in trouble, crashing to 45-6 as Harry Williams (3-12) and Markham (3-22) wreaked havoc. Eason and Hicks gave Horspath hope and with the tension palpable edged the hosts towards that second batting point.
Eason reached a fine half-century with a single, but with the score 115-7 he was caught by Harry Purton on the mid-wicket boundary off Ben Butcher. He had faced 105 balls and hit six fours.
That was the beginning of the send as the last two wickets went in quick succession to Butcher (2-20) and Kovel (2-17) leaving Horspath short of their target.
Although the title slipped from their grasp, promotion has still been achieved and the side can look forward to playing in the top flight again.
Match highlights are available by clicking here