Witney 17, Slough 20
Poor decision-making cost Witney dearly as they slipped to a narrow home defeat in Southern Counties North.
Having already missed five very kickable penalties, the hosts were presented with a 15-metre three-pointer in front of the posts to level the match with five minutes of stoppage-time remaining.
But instead of making the obvious choice, they kicked for the corner and the chance was lost.
This fiasco, with Witney trailing 20-17, summed up a game that should have been so much better for a side who created plenty of chances.
Witney began brightly enough, but saw fly half Henry Lamb drag his second-minute penalty attempt well wide.
Referee Mark Dendy was quick to blow up all afternoon and a Slough off-side allowed Lamb to slot a much better penalty from further out on seven minutes.
Henry Lamb wasted another good chance when he sent a penalty intended for the corner beyond the dead ball line.
And as they tried to run back the Slough drop-out, full back Ed Mitchem's poor pass missed James Monks and gave the visitors the chance to attack.
Slough's heavier pack, led well by skipper Johan Landman, were twice held up, but a simple scrum move saw centre James O'Reilly bag their opening try on 13 minutes.
Witney had plenty of territory and looked to bring Mitchem into the line wherever possible.
But with Henry Lamb having missed penalties on 24 and 26 minutes, Slough landed a sucker punch.
Somehow right wing Ben Lidgate ran in unchallenged and under the posts for a try that O'Reilly converted.
Witney's best handling move so far ended with wing Lewis Collins just stopped on the left, while Monks couldn't quite get over on the right after linking with James Lamb.
After a flat first half, Witney needed to start well, but they couldn't stop Landman driving over and O'Reilly converting for 17-3 before they had really touched the ball.
The hosts gained a massive lifeline when Slough saw lock Mark Hankinson and scrum half Ross Evans sin-binned within two minutes.
Hankinson saw yellow for interfering on the floor and Evans for body-checking Henry Lamb, but neither he nor Mitchem could slot the resulting penalties.
Witney's superior numbers finally told with tries on 51 and 55 minutes.
Hooker Sam Collins finished well after some concerted forward pressure, while the irrepressible Monks bashed his way through a series of tackles to touch down.
Mitchem converted both of these and suddenly it was game on.
Slough regained momentum with their full complement of players and retook the lead with O'Reilly's 64th-minute penalty.
Witney dominated from them on, but lacked the composure to secure the win their second-half performance merited.
Witney: Mitchem, L Collins (Tustin 68), Strutt, J Lamb, Monks, H Lamb, Gouldie, Dore, S Collins, Serle, Richens, Chatterton (J Rowland [blood] 18-22 & 34-38), M Copperwheat, Caffekey, J Hicks (capt). Rep not used: Ashford.
Referee: M Dendy (Oxfordshire).
Witney man-of-the-match: Monks.
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