Fairford drifted to a disappointing defeat against Kingsholm in their latest league outing.
Chasing 199 for victory the home side ended 14 runs short, being all out in the final over.
The Gloucester side won the toss and, opting to bat, openers Williams and Uthup played with a degree of luck against the opening attack of Denness and Bird.
But poor catching was to prove costly. Williams was dismissed after the introduction of Ade Newport and Uthup was neatly taken behind by Clive Gray for 54.
Poor out-cricket continued to blight Fairford's attack and young Markey helped the score along with a useful 28.
Kingsholm, though, repaid the favour to Fairford's fielders and a rash of run-outs eventually left them on 197-8 and the home side with an extra bonus point.
Fairford were forced into a change of openers with Lee Clark joining Mark Leadbeater.
Neither looked in trouble until both were well taken behind by Veits with the score on 35.
This brought Newport and Graham Clarke to the middle and with both hitting the 30-mark, Fairford were back in contention.
When Townsend was joined by Gray Fairford only required 82 with six wickets in hand, but the former's dismissal, and the return of Cambridge to the attack, pulled the brakes.
Wickets started to tumble, the tail, including Sid Peyman and Denness, tried to find the required runs, but Fairford eventually fell short by just 14.
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