Exeter Chiefs fell to a 26-25 defeat at home against Gloucester in a game that swung one way then the other during a pulsating second half.
However, the home side were made to pay for making too many errors as they slipped to a third loss in a row.
Greig Laidlaw landed two penalties in the first half as the visitors led 6-0, before tries from wingers Jack Nowell and Matt Jess put the Chiefs in front.
Gloucester countered with scores from Tom Savage and Ben Morgan, only for Thomas Waldrom's try giving the Chiefs hope.
However, it was not to be as David Humphreys' side closed out the win in Exeter's 100th match in the Aviva Premiership, and in front of a record crowd of 12,621.
There was a late change to Exeter's starting line-up as Don Armand wife went into labour, with Ben White promoted from the bench and Sam Simmonds named as a replacement for the first time in a Premiership game.
The visitors opened the scoring in just the third minute as Matt Jess was penalised for holding on to the ball on the ground, with Laidlaw landing the penalty from around 42 metres.
Jess went close to atoning for his error as Thomas Waldrom passed back from a scrum in Gloucester's 22, with Henry Slade kicking down the blindside for the winger to chase but he knocked-on over the line under pressure from David Halaifonua.
Fellow speedster Jack Nowell also went close as he hacked on a loose ball but collided with Jonny May as he chased the ball into the in-goal area, but referee Andrew Small ruled there had been no foul play after checking with TV official Keith Lewis.
The home side wasted another couple of opportunities before Laidlaw landed his second penalty when Moray Low was penalised at a scrum.
More chances went begging before the break as Gloucester turned around with a 6-0 advantage.
Skipper Billy Twelvetrees extended the visitors' lead with a long-range dropped goal before a dramatic four-minute period saw three tries scored.
First Nowell sniped from the base of a ruck after a break by Gareth Steenson, shrugging off attempted tackles from Morgan and Laidlaw before dotting down behind the posts.
Steenson added the extras to that and also a second by Jess two minutes later as he picked up a loose pass by Twelvetrees and raced away from the edge of his own 22.
However the 14-9 lead did not last long as Exeter made a mess of the re-start and Savage was on hand to pick up and drive over, with Laidlaw kicking the conversion.
Steenson and Laidlaw then exchanged penalties, with two from Exeter's fly-half to one from Gloucester's scrum-half giving the hosts a 20-19 lead with 18 minutes left.
The Cherry & Whites went back in front with 12 minutes remaining as Morgan drove over from close range, with Laidlaw landing the extras.
But Exeter replied again, with the forwards getting a fantastic driving maul going before Waldrom was able to get over the line for his ninth try of the season. Crucially Steenson hit the right upright with his attempted conversion.
There was one last chance for the Chiefs as Ian Whitten broke up field but their patient play came to nothing as Tomas Francis gave away a penalty to allow Gloucester to clear the danger and run down the clock to take the victory.Exeter Chiefs: Dollman (McGuigan, 80); Nowell, Slade, Hill (Whitten, 62), Jess; Steenson, Chudley (Thomas, 56); Moon (Rimmer, 57), Yeandle (Cowan-Dickie, 57), Low (Francis, 54), Mumm, Lees (Sexton, 46), Ewers, White, Waldrom. Rep (not used): SimmondsScorers: tries – Nowell, Jess, Waldrom; cons – Steenson (2); pen – SteensonGloucester: Sharples; Halaifonua, Atkinson, Twelvetrees, May; Hook, Laidlaw; Wood, Dawiduik (Lutui, 54), Afoa (Knight, 75), Savage, Palmer, Kalamafoni (Evans, 54), Kvesic, Morgan. Reps (not used): Thomas, Stooke, Robson, Burns, MeakesScorers: tries – Savage, Morgan; con – Laidlaw; pens – Laidlaw (3); dg – TwelvetreesAttendance: 12,621Referee: Abdrew Small
