Esporta Oxford stay third in the Professional Squash League following a 4-1 defeat by near rivals Birmingham.
But the contest was much closer than the score suggests.
Esporta's second string Chris Ryder had an incredible 12 match points - including lets - before losing 10-8 in the final set to Jon Harford, who is placed 22 places below him in the world rankings.
Oxfordshire's No 1 Kristen Johnson secured Esporta's only victory, when his never-say-die attitude saw him beat Joel Hinds, again in the deciding leg.
At No 3, Esporta's Dutchman, Dylan Bennett, looked favourite on paper against up-and-coming Steve Coppinger, but went down in four games.
Top string Scott Handley took the first game for Esporta against the impressive Joey Barrington, but the local Oxfordshire player lost pace to lose the next three games.
In the ladies match, Kerri Shields, playing for the second time for Oxford, lost in straight sets to Emma Chorley.
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