Celtic League: Having beaten champions Llanelli at Stradey Park last month, Connacht enjoyed yet more success in Wales as they put the skids under Celtic League leaders Neath-Swansea Ospreys.
Matt Mostyn scored the game's only try, though the Ospreys, missing eight Wales internationals, contested its legitimacy after claiming a forward pass.
Amid the gloomy conditions it was a moment of opportunism from Connacht full-back Mostyn that separated the teams at half-time.
Connacht's pack pushed forward through Bernard Jackman and John Muldoon. Chris Keane set the backs in motion before Darren Yapp's flat-pass to Mostyn saw the former Ireland wing split the defence from 30 metres out. The Ospreys looked to Scottish official Graeme Hannah for a forward pass, but no call came. Paul Warwick converted for a seven-point lead.
Matthew Jones, the Ospreys baby-faced outhalf, struck two penalties to close the gap to a point. The damp conditions made life difficult for the kickers. Jones was off target four times while Warwick badly sliced his first before landing his second attempt on 64 minutes to nudge Connacht 10-6 ahead.
Jones slotted over a drop goal five minutes later to set up a nail-biting climax with just a point separating the teams once again.
However Jones missed again six minutes from time and after the Ospreys were forced to opt for a lineout rather than go for goal, Connacht captain Andrew Farley came up with the crucial steal just yards off his own line.
OSPREYS: A Durston; S Terblanche, D Bishop, E Seveali'i, A Brew (D Tiueti, 66); M Jones, J Spice (capt); P James, H Bennett, A Millward, A Newman, L Bateman (L Tait, 50), J Bater, A Lloyd (N Bonner-Evans, 59), R Pugh. Replacements: R Hibbard, C Griffiths, L Tait, N Bonner-Evans, A Williams, J Hook, D Tiueti.
CONNACHT: M Mostyn; T Robinson (E Elwood, 58), D Yapp, J Downey, C McPhillips (C O'Loughlin, 74); P Warwick, C Keane; R Hogan (S Knoop, 50), B Jackman, P Bracken, C Short, A Farley (capt), M Swift (J Muldoon, 13-28, 70), J O'Sullivan (P Myburgh, 50), M Lacey. Replacements: Halligan, Knoop, Myburgh, Muldoon, O'Loughlin, Elwood, Meagher.
Referee: Graeme Hannah (Scotland)
