Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather: Clear and warm
Goals:
Weymouth - Jefferson Louis - 39', 84'
Cambridge Utd: Fortune-West - 63', Rendell 70'
United had to settle for a point after coming from behind to lead before Weymouth grabbed an equaliser when Louis, with his second of the night, was first to the ball after Potter saved his penalty. United go top - for 24 hours at least - and remain unbeaten after six games.
The surprise news at the start of the match was the absence of defender Michael Morrison, missing his first game for over a season as he made way for returning midfielder Darren Quinton, allowing Mark Albrighton to return to his accustomed role in defence alongside Mark Peters and Gavin Hoyte.
Weymouth had the better of the opening stages, Jefferson Louis driving the ball wide within 15 seconds and Coutts forcing an early corner, but Louis was denied by a block from Leo Fortune-West. Louis was in the thick of the action again, winning a free kick for the Terras, but Potter was able to smother the danger.
It took United nine minutes to create their first chance, a free kick from Stephen Reed after Lee Boylan was fouled by Vickers, but Weymouth blocked before Boylan tried to break free after the ball went loose. Weymouth changed to three at the back, but United couldn't create a chance. As Weymouth changed their formation, United settled down, having weathered the storm. Fortune-West then forced a corner, when his shot was pushed wide, but the Terras defence coped well.
On 13 minutes, Boylan had the best chance of the game so far when his header was blocked by Matthews, Quinton met the rebound but his shot was diverted behind by Vickers, and Reed's corner was punched away by Matthews.
The best chance so far came from Stuart Beavon's snap shot on 18 minutes, as United struggled to get their rhythm going, but the shot went high over Potter's bar.
United started to pick up the pace, with Fortune-West making good runs and Reed testing the Weymouth defence. Weymouth had to deal with a series of United crosses and Quinton had a 20-yarder saved in the 23rd minute, and at the other end Albrighton made a solid clearance from Simon Weatherstone's challenge; then Pitt handled but Jason Matthews' free kick was poor.
Jefferson Louis missed the best chance of the half on the half hour when he beat Mark Peters for pace, but Louis's right-footed shot from 18 yards flew wide with Potter stranded. Weymouth had the best chances as well as the better possession, though the game remained scrappy in midfield, and Weymouth looked the more likely to score.
Beavon was working tirelessly to make the break, but he was caught offside on three occasions, and on 39 minutes, Weymouth broke the deadlock. Stuart Beavon broke down the left, picked out Jefferson Louis in the area, and despite Potter getting a hand on it, he couldn't stop the ball flying into the roof of the net.
Shots from Gleeson, Wolleaston and Boylan followed, with the goal having shaken United from their lethargy, and they were unlucky when Albrighton's close range header was scrambled away a minute before half-time.
Half time - Weymouth 1 Cambridge United 0
Half Time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"United took a while to settle - indeed, it took the goal from Weymouth on 39 minutes to kick start a sluggish performance. Once behind, United started to look dangerous and they will need to take that into the second half."
United struggled to get going as Weymouth continued to frustrate, and although the U's were able to quell the home side's attacks, they weren't able to create any pressure themselves.
Critchell missed a half chance when he shot over the bar, then on 58 Steven Reed picked the ball up midway inside the Weymouth half, raced forward and fired a tremendous shot over the bar from distance. United won a free kick seven yards outside the area, which Reed took, but it fell too far for Fortune-West and Weymouth broke quickly to the other end, with United forced to concede a corner.
Stephen Smith came on for Pitt on 61 and within moments United were level. Gavin Hoyte's free kick was lumped clear, but United pressed forward again. Rob Wolleaston and Mark Albrighton did the spadework, and Leo Fortune-West struck after a sweet turn to put the U's level on 62 minutes; his fifth goal of the campaign repaying yet more of the faith Quinn showed in him.
Jimmy Quinn sensed blood and made two more substitutions, sending on the fresh legs of Michael Hyem and Scott Rendell for Quinton and Boylan
Weymouth responded with two substitutions of their own, but within just moments of them coming on, Monday's hero Scott Rendell put United in front. From Stephen Smith's long throw, Fortune West flicked it on, and Rendell chested it down and lashed it home from 12 yards for his second goal in two games.
United looked to kill the game off and it was all United after the second goal went in. Fortune-West's header was saved by Matthews, Stephen Reed floated in two great free kicks, then Hyem wasted a half chance as Weymouth tried to press forward, and they levelled in controversial fashion eight minutes from time.
Wolleaston was penalised for a dubious foul in the box on Ashley Vickers, and Jefferson Louis stepped forward to take the spot kick. Potter made a tremendous save but United didn't clear their lines and Louis tapped in the rebound.
From the re-start, Weymouth's McCallum and United's Smith both had shots off target, then Hyem tried to get Fortune-West away but Crittenden cleared. Peters pumped it back into the Weymouth half, and Stephen Reed was brought down just outside the Weymouth box by Weatherstone. The resulting free-kick was put behind for a corner but United couldn't capitalise.
Weymouth broke to the other end, but from McCallum's cross, Weymouth were penalised. Immediately, United were on the counter, but the Terras cleared.
Deep into injury time, Potter made a magnificent diving save from McCallum to deny the home side a winner, and the U's cleared the resulting corner. At the other end, Rendell almost repeated his Bank Holiday antics, but the home side cleared their lines.
Final score: Weymouth 2 Cambridge United 2
Weymouth:
Jason Matthews, Kyle Critchell (Conal Platt - 76 mins), Simon Weatherstone, Ashley Vickers, Joel Kitamirike, Sido Jombarti, Paolo Vernazza, Anton Robinson, Jamie Coutts ( Nick Crittenden - 70 mins); Jefferson Louis, Stuart Beavon (Gavin McCallum - 70 mins)
Subs not used: Danny Philips, Scott Doe
Booked: Joel Kitamirike (61 mins); Weatherstone (90 mins)
Cambridge Utd:
Danny Potter, Mark Peters, Mark Albrighton, Gavin Hoyte, Dan Gleeson, Stephen Reed, Darren Quinton (Michael Hyem - 64 mins), Rob Wolleaston, Courtney Pitt (Stephen Smith - 61 mins) Lee Boylan (Scott Rendell - 64 mins), Leo Fortune-West.
Subs not used: Luke McShane, Michael Morrison
Booked: Steven Reed (53 mins - deliberate hand ball)
Att: 1,502 (away 168)
Referee: David Phillips (Sussex)
Full Time summary from Mark Johnson:
"The U's return to the top of the table following a draw at Weymouth, but they were denied victory by a controversial late penalty decision against them. Jefferson Louis had put the home side in front, as Weymouth punished United's sluggish first half, but United were transformed at half time, and struck back with well-taken goals from Leo Fortune-West and Scott Rendell.
United looked set for more, but couldn't kill off the game, and were undone 6 minutes from time when Vickers dived in the box, and the referee fell for it. Despite Potter making a fine stop from Louis's spot kick, the Weymouth man smuggled in the rebound."
Man of the Match:
"It had to be Danny Potter. His penalty save was excellent and he was unlucky with the rebound, and he made several superb saves, especially the late one which denied the Terras an undeserved winner."
Referee:
"Hopefully not one of his better performances, as if this is him on top form, then Mr Phillips put on a pretty poor show, and he wasn't helped by either assistant. 2/10"
After the game, Jimmy Quinn was disappointed not to have picked up all 3 points:
"It was a great fight-back in the second half. We were naive in our defending for the first goal. We didn't hold our position, and didn't defend properly. We regrouped at half-time, and I thought the subs made a great difference. Rendell was superb and Hyem and Smith made an impact too. Both goals were typical strikers goals, and I was delighted with them, but I thought Vickers took a blatant dive for their goal. The lads also thought they were offside before that. The linesman missed it.
"Our pre-match was hardly ideal - five hours on the coach and we missed our pre-match meal, but we put in a lot of effort and should have had three points instead of one."
Match report from Steve Greenall (yes, him!)
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