United dropped two points at home as they failed to find the killer final ball despite plenty of pressure and effort.

Jimmy Quinn made two changes to the side beaten 2-1 at Crawley on Tuesday, recalling fit-again Wayne Hatswell to the defence in place of Mark Peters, and handing striker Jack Jeffery his first start up front in place of midfielder Mark Convery. Danny Brown was on the bench and in a squad for the first time since late January.

Weymouth manager John Hollins made one change to the side that lost 2-1 at Burton Albion, calling up Crewe loanee Matthew Bailey for the injured Paolo Vernazza, and Bailey started the match up front as the lone striker with Stuart Beavon just behind him in a withdrawn role.

Weymouth opted to kick off with the wind at their backs as snow and sleet blew in from the north, and 18-year-old Jack Jeffery started with as much gusto as he showed when he came off the bench at Crawley on Tuesday, being penalised for a foul in the opening 40 seconds and keeping the visiting defence on their toes with his strong running and intelligent movement off the ball.

The swirling wind made conditions difficult for both teams and a Weymouth corner in the ninth minute came to nothing while Tony Bedeau lifted a shot over the bar two minutes later, but United gradually seemed to find their stride in the swirling snow.

Boylan and Jeffery showed glimpses of a good understanding despite their lack of previous time playing together while Paul Carden sprayed a range of passes around the pitch as he tried to release U's players down the flanks and through on goal.

Mark Beesley's looping cross curled beyond the keeper and was bundled behind for a 22nd minute corner, which was cleared by Bailey, and as the action switched from end to end Simon Weatherstone had a volley charged down and blocked for a corner. To the home fans' amusement Weatherstone slipped as he took it, the ball eventually arriving with Carden.

Mark Albrighton made a thunderous 28th minute challenge on Bailey to win the ball and start a counterattack that resulted in a United corner, which was headed away by Robinson as the Weymouth back line held firm. Four minutes later Michael Morrison delivered a good cross into the box to meet Boylan's run and the ball was cleared for a corner, which the keeper missed, but although Albrighton drove the ball goalwards it hit Hatswell's ankles and bounced away with the goal gaping.

Referee David Coote had been a little picky in the early stages and a spate of bookings followed as first Kyle Critchell was booked in the 37th minute for bringing Pitt down in full stride, then Hatswell joined him a minute later for bringing down Beavon from behind.

The Weymouth physio was called on to attend to Critchell who appeared to slip on the Habbin side of the pitch but after brief attention tried to carry on until half-time, and in the 41st minute the next booking followed when Challis and Jeffery tangled while chasing shoulder to shoulder for the ball, Jeffery ending up on the ground, Challis shown the yellow card, and Hatswell driving a low free kick into the keeper's arms.

Critchell was unable to struggle on and two minutes before half-time he was replaced by striker Jake Hyde, with Bailey dropping into defence in a reshuffle, but within a minute Hyde was injured as he slipped when making a challenge and he also needed the physio's attention.

As play entered stoppage time Jeffery made a good run to meet Pitt's cross in the area but his shot was blocked by Blackburn, and as the visitors tried to break away Morrison brought down Beavon to end the move. The stretcher then came on to carry off the unfortunate Hyde who was unable to continue and Michael Malcolm came on to replace his injured team-mate.

There was just enough time for another booking three minutes into stoppage time when Robinson made a dreadful late challenge on Beesley and was perhaps fortunate to escape with just a yellow card.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A half that had everything apart from warmth saw United battling against the prevailing wind but having the better of the chances. Should be ahead and will fancy their hopes after the break."

Second half:
During half-time the snow began to stick and the referee switched to a yellow ball and instructed the ground staff to sweep the pitch markings before the match resumed, and before the second half kicked off John Hollins made his third and final substitution to bring on Nick Crittenden for Beavon, reverting to a five man midfield.

There was early goal action at both ends as Bailey had a long shot well-saved by Potter within half a minute and two minutes later a U's counterattacking move culminated with Jeffery five yards outside the area swinging an extravagantly curling shot narrowly wide.

Courtney Pitt had another corner cleared by Blackburn then on 55 United's front men showed some good interplay as Boylan fed the ball to Jeffery who set up Pitt to cut inside and curl a shot wide from 25 yards. United were still struggling to find their stride and produce a telling final ball and on 58 Boylan raced onto Beesley's intelligent through ball but was unable to take it in his stride and the chance was gone.

The half-time snow had completely disappeared by time Wolleaston teed up Beesley 25 yards out for a 61st minute shot on the turn that flew wide of the far post, and with United enjoying possession but failing to find the breakthrough, Jimmy Quinn made his first change on 65 to bring on Magno Vieira for Mark Beesley, the Brazilian slotting in behind Boylan and Jeffery.

The chances continued to arrive for United as Dan Gleeson picked up possession 25 yards out and drove a shot that Henderson smothered just before Boylan arrived with him, then Rob Wolleaston's shot deflected off a defender and looped a foot wide of the far post for a corner.

On 70 Jeffery made an excellent turn on the ball to release Pitt down the left, he found Hatswell in support but the defender's 25-yarder was cleared and Boylan couldn't connect, and as the U's attacked again Jeffery sent Wolleaston away into the area and his ball across the face of goal was deflected behind for another corner as a defender got there inches ahead of Vieira who was closing in to tap home.

Pitt delivered a good cross into the area for Boylan but it flicked off his heel into the keeper's hands, and in the 74th minute Quinn swapped one lively youngster for another when he brought on Robbie Willmott for Jeffery, who left the pitch to deservedly warm applause.

The U's were camped in the Weymouth half and Boylan had a 20-yarder deflected behind and consecutive corners were headed away by Bailey, then Willmott released Vieira down the right and his cross set up Pitt as he raced into the area but his mis-hit shot was too close to the keeper, and with ten minutes remaining Willmott showed his pace as he cut in from the right and his long-range shot was cleared by Weatherstone.

With Weymouth suffocating play in midfield and the tension in the ground increasing, Wayne Hatswell got forward to have a cross-shot turned behind in the 84th minute and two minutes later at the other end he headed away two consecutive Terras' corners after a rare breakaway move.

The impressive Paul Carden tried to find the breakthrough with a 30-yarder that flew over the bar in the 87th minute, two minutes later Michael Morrison was adjudged to have fouled Weymouth keeper Henderson at a corner and Chris Blackburn was booked for his protests, and as play entered stoppage time defender Scott Doe was booked for blatant timewasting as they tried to run the clock down.

There was one final chance for United as Pitt raced to the byline in space but the slippery ball ran beyond him and out of play to end a disappointing afternoon, and with the teams around us in the play-off places winning today it was a case of two important points dropped.

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Mark Albrighton (c), Michael Morrison, Wayne Hatswell; Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Paul Carden, Courtney Pitt; Mark Beesley (Magno Vieira 64'), Jack Jeffery (Robbie Willmott 74'), Lee Boylan.
Subs not used: Danny Brown, Mark Peters, Josh Coulson.

Booked: Hatswell foul 38'

Weymouth:
Stephen Henderson, Kyle Critchell (Jake Hyde 43', Michael Malcolm 45'), Chris Blackburn, Scott Doe, Trevor Challis (c); Anthony Bedeau, Anton Robinson, Simon Weatherstone, Jamie Coutts; Stuart Beavon (Nicholas Crittenden 46'); Matthew Bailey
Subs not used: John Stewart, Franklin Anzitte.

Foul: Critchell foul 37', Challis foul 41', Robinson 45', Blackburn dissent 89', Doe time-wasting 90'

Referee: Mr David Coote

Att: 2,914 (away 59)

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"Two points dropped by the U's as they failed to break down a resolute Weymouth defence. A blustery day with driving rain, sleet and snow provided conditions hardly conducive to free-flowing football but United made the best of it while Weymouth did everything but build a rampart on the edge of their own penalty area. Frustratingly, although they dominated possession, on the rare occasions the U's found a way through the visitors' entrenchments United lacked the finish, the luck or the composure to find the single goal that surely would have been enough."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Paul Carden - a gritty performance, winning virtually everything in the middle of the park and spraying passes around with almost unerring accuracy. Honourable mentions for Courtney Pitt who caused them problems down the left, particularly in the first half, Wayne Hatswell who brought balance and composure to the back line, while the approach work of the front three was excellent up to the edge of the area."

Ref: Mr Coote - pernickety at times and threatened to enjoy the sound of his own whistle rather too much, but settled down as the match continued. 7/10."

Now talk about the match with fellow U's on our lively and friendly message board!