Rover Oxford were made to pay for missed chances - including a late penalty - as they slid to a 3-2 defeat at Exmouth in Division 2.
The Devon side forced keeper Liz Say into several early saves.
But Rover held out and, from their first attack, Lorraine Furney had a shot from a short corner tipped round the post by a defender on the line.
Rover continued to press, and in the seventh minute took the lead with a looping shot from Lyn Cockshott.
Exmouth's Zoe Salter equalised five minutes later after a slick one-two at the top of the circle.
A comedy of errors then saw Exmouth take the lead through Helen Johnson when keeper Say missed a simple kick after the defence had gifted the home team possession.
Rover hit back and Clare Norton crossed for Cockshott to slot home her second, and the equaliser.
The second half started in controversial fashion, with Exmouth having a goal from a short corner disallowed on appeal from acting captain Cockshott for the shot being too high.
From that point, Rover won no fewer than six short corners which they failed to convert.
And, somewhat against the run of play in the 47th minute, Jackie Shuter scored what turned out to be the winning goal with a speculative reverse stick shot from the top of the circle.
With ten minutes to go, Exmouth were finally punished for deliberate stick-tackles and Rover were awarded a penalty. But Cockshott, looking for her hat-trick, saw her effort parried.
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