London Welsh suffered a heart-breaking 15-14 defeat at Gloucester after coming so close to securing the victory they needed to turn their Aviva Premiership season around.

The Oxford-based Exiles, brimming with passion and commitment at Kingsholm, led Gloucester 14-6 after an hour and were in touching distance of boosting their survival hopes.

But the hosts snatched a dramatic win late on when Freddie Burns landed his fifth penalty to dash the visitors’ hopes.

Had they held off Gloucester, Welsh would still be within touching distance of relegation rivals Sale Sharks, who edged out Bath 14-13 on Friday night.

And should they win their appeal against a five-point penalty for fielding an ineligible player – the result of which is due to be announced early this week – the Exiles would have been out of the drop zone entirely.

As it is, Welsh can take great heart from this display, but the fact that they scored the only try and picked up a bonus point will come as scant consolation.

Had fly half Gordon Ross not hit a post with his conversion after wing Phil MacKenzie’s try and then landed a penalty soon afterwards, Welsh may have been able to hold on.

Then there was also the matter of not being awarded a penalty try when Gloucester wing Jonny May deliberately knocked on just yards from his own line.

Gloucester were well below their best, as director of rugby Nigel Davies admitted afterwards, but came on strong in the final quarter, with their forwards winning penalty after penalty.

Welsh had to make a late change, with fly half Gavin Henson failing a fitness test on his calf, so Ross was drafted in.

There was also no place in the side for full back Tom Arscott just days after announcing he will join relegation rivals Sale at the end of the season.

Arscott had been named in the provisional team earlier in the week, but was ruled out with an unspecified injury.

Seb Jewell took his place at No 15, with Gonzalo Tiesi returning in the centre.

Gloucester named a strong side, with England internationals Charlie Sharples, Mike Tindall, Billy Twelvetrees and Burns in their back line.

An even later change for the hosts saw former Oxford University prop Nick Wood drop out to be replaced by Dan Murphy.

Gloucester took lead after driving powerfully into the 22 to set up a penalty chance, which fly half Burns slotted on seven minutes.

Ross replied in kind with a longer-range effort five minutes later.

Welsh managed a promising break on the left, with wing Seb Stegmann's grubber kick causing problems, but centre Twelvetrees ran the ball clear with real style.

The Exiles’ committed blitz defence earned them a penalty near halfway, which Ross converted for a 6-3 lead on 24 minutes.

Gloucester had a chance to hit back soon afterwards, but an off-key Burns missed his penalty to the right.

For all their obvious talent, the hosts lacked the Exiles’ workrate.

Gloucester were, however, dominating the penalty count and Burns levelled with one on the stroke of half-time.

It was not pretty, but the Exiles would have been happy enough at the break.

Welsh made a great start to the second half and came close to scoring via some good forward drives.

Lock Jon Mills’s potential scoring pass was knocked on deliberately by May close to the line, but referee Martin Fox felt a yellow card was sufficient punishment.

Ross slotted the resulting penalty, while Burns missed an absolute sitter to equalise.

Stegmann launched a Welsh counter attack into the home 22 as the visitors raised their game.

That was just the prelude to their try.

Tight-head prop James Tideswell showed great pace to break clear and had the presence of mind to find MacKenzie, who dived over.

Ross's conversion hit a post, but his side led 14-6.

It should have been 17-6 on 58 minutes, but Ross sliced a fairly simple penalty wide.

Burns reduced the arrears with a penalty, but then kicked dead from his own half to give Welsh a big boost.

At the other end, Ross got away with a quick 22-drop out that almost misfired.

Burns kicked a fourth penalty, but he sent his next effort just wide from near the left touch line.

A huge home scrum gave Burns a far easier chance and he made it 15-14 without difficulty.

With the clock ticking down, Burns went for a long-range penalty after another powerful scrum.

This went wide, but there was next to no time for Welsh to hit back and Burns immediately kicked dead to end the match.

Gloucester: Cook, Sharples, Tindall (Trinder 66), Twelvetrees, May (Thomas 35-37 (blood)), Burns, Robson, Murphy, Edmonds (Britton 55), Knight (Chistolini 55), Hamilton (capt), James, Buxton (Savage 46), Hazell (Qera 46), Kalamafoni. Rep not used: D Lewis.

London Welsh: Jewell, MacKenzie, Tiesi, Parker, Stegmann, Ross, Keats (Davies 67), Bristow (Moss 74), George (Bateman 74), Tideswell (Joly 62), Mills (capt), Kulemin (Corker 65), Cabello, Hills, Browne (Balding 72). Reps not used: J Lewis, Scott.

Referee: M Fox (Norfolk).

Attendance: 14,627.