Dan Todd's patient half-century set Horspath 2nd up for their first Cherwell League Division 1 win of the season with a 37-run victory at Didcot.
The opener made 62 from 118 deliveries to steer the visitors to 225-9 after they had chosen to bat.
He shared a second-wicket stand of 104 with Robbie Eason, who made 45 before he edged behind to Owen Simmons off former Horspath seamer Ceri Holmes, making it 110-2.
Todd went to his fifty with a six and added 53 for the third wicket with Dan Corner. His innings, which also featured six fours and a second maximum, finally ended when he fell to Akash Mollayil with Joshua Giddings taking the catch.
Horspath lost wickets in pursuit of quick runs in the last 10 overs with Moolayil (5-47) the chief beneficiary.
Ed Oakley (2-38) made an early breakthrough in Didcot's innings, but opener Simmons led the fightback, adding 54 for the third wicket with Sam Hepke as the hosts reached 99-2.
However, Liam Turnbull then bowled Simmons for 57 and after Luke Heritage trapped Hepke lbw for 22, Horspath tightened their grip.
Turnbull finished with 4-35 and Heritage 3-41, while there was a first wicket for new signing William Morore as Didcot succumbed to 188 all out.
The win moves Horspath up to fifth place ahead of Saturday's home game against third-placed Oxford Downs 2nd, who beat Aston Rowant 2nd by four wickets.
It's part of a double-header with the side away to Witney Swifts in the Pullinger Cup first round on Sunday.
Horspath 3rd also got off the mark with a 67-run win at Wolverton Town in Division 3B.
Oliver Taylor (28) and Tejas Anand (25) made starts after Horspath elected to bat, before the innings fell away to 131-8.
But then acting skipper Joe Gibbs (35no) and Dan Stanley (30) added 67 for the ninth wicket to steer the visitors to 202-9.
Stanley then took 4-17 as Wolverton collapsed to 135 all out with Zach Rayner (2-20), Gibbs (2-24) and Josh Cummings (2-37) providing good support.
The side climb to fifth going into Saturday's game at home to fourth-placed Aston Rowant 3rd, who went down by 151 runs against Buckingham Town 2nd.
Archie Lewins hit an unbeaten 49 in Horspath 4th's eight-wicket defeat at home to Long Marston 2nd in Division 6C.
Lewins and Sam Moore put on 66 for the sixth wicket after the hosts had been 28-5 after choosing to bat.
But after Moore fell for 18, Horspath were shot out for 98 with the last five wickets falling for four runs as Sakthimurugan Subramanian (4-11) and Yogesh Mistry (4-12) did the damage.
Long Marston then raced to 99-2 with Jamie Kerr claiming his first wicket before Andy Willis (44no) saw the visitors home.
Horspath are now eighth ahead of Saturday's trip to leaders Bradenham, who beat Bledlow Ridge 2nd by 157 runs.
And then on Sunday the side entertain Bledlow Ridge 2nd in the Steve Dixon Memorial Cup first round.
Horspath CC would like to thank the following 2026 Player Sponsors:
Amin Rafiq (STRONG Pilates Oxford)
Asad Rafiq (STRONG Pilates Oxford)
Will Eason (Oxford Marquees)
Josh Richardson (Steve Richardson)
Tyrone Eyles (Interduct UK Ltd)
Robbie Eason (ARB UK Ltd)
Tom Coleman (RJA & SL Coleman)
Ryan Hicks (Green & Wakefield)
Ehsan Hussain (RMA Properties)
Tom Nichols (Savona Foodservice)
Josh Cummings (Gardiners Opticians)