It was a different day and different opponents but it was a case of the same old story as far as Cambridge City were concerned at Weymouth's impressive Wessex Stadium. Individual errors were again to blame as City slipped to their fourth consecutive league defeat.

Lee Chaffey takes the ball from Luke Nightingale

It could have been so different had Danny Bloomfield taken advantage of an early gaffe by home goalkeeper Jason Matthews. Robbie Miller's long high ball upfield found Bloomfield in acres of space and charging in on goal. Matthews attemted to head the ball clear but only succeeded in playing it straight at the City striker who collected the loose ball but could then only watch in disbelief as his effort rebounded off the foot of the post, and away to safety with the goal gaping.

It was a miraculous escape for the home side and they preceded to put the City under some sustained pressure orchestrated by experienced player-manager Steve Claridge. After fifteen minutes, home skipper Peter Buckle took advantage of a lucky rebound before slipping the ball into the path of Claridge. The bustling striker skipped around the challenge of Martin Davies but, with an open goal gaping, found the side netting much to the relief of the visitors.

A minute later Weymouth thought they had drawn first blood. New home signing Luke Nightingale charged through the City rearguard and appeared to fall over his own bootlaces winning a free-kick on the edge of the area, and surprisngly finding the unfortunate Lee Pluck a place in the referees notebook. As the official was making sure the wall retreated the mandatory ten yards, Claridge took a quickly taken place kick which whistled into the net, but much to the annoyance of everyone in a claret and blue shirt it was deemed to have been taken too early. The re-take came to nothing and City managed to scramble the ball away.

Robbie Simpson expertly lobs Jason Matthews to score

Weymouth didn't have to wait long to open the scoring legitimately, three minutes to be precise, Lee Philpott's left-wing inswinging corner was flicked on by Simon Browne at the near post, Claridge managed to lose his marker and head home from the edge of the six-yard box past an exposed Davies.

Browne nearly added his name to the scoresheet minutes later but his glancing header, when well placed, sailed a foot over the bar with Davies backpeddling. City were making a game of it though and Leon Bell swung a 34th free-kick in from the left and watched as Pluck glanced a header on target in a crowded penalty area only for Matthews to palm the ball onto the top of the crossbar and away for a corner. Soon afterwards, the visitors were to fall further behind. A long clearance upfield by the keeper unluckily landed on Pluck's back and cannoned into the path of Claridge who was suddenly bearing down one-on-one with Davies. Claridge used all his experience to draw the keeper and thump the ball past him into the net.

A two-goal lead that Weymouth just about deserved on balance of play although City had done enough up to that point to suggest that they still had a part to play. Two minutes before the break, that hope was realised as Robbie Simpson was rewarded for his persistance by getting City back into the game. Miller played a one-two with Bloomfield in centre-field and expertly picked out the galloping Simpson who shrugged off the challenge of defender Lee Russell before lifting the ball over Matthews and seeing it nestle delightfully in the net.

Lee Pluck and Lewis Baillie combine to clear the ball

The second half began with City pressing for an instant equalizer inspired by the flourishing midfield partnership of Bell and Lewis Baillie. Minutes into the half, Bloomfield took advantage of a mistake by Russell and burst into the gap and within sight of goal, only for the hapless defender to produce a cynical professional foul to bring the striker crashing to the ground. Russell must have feared the worst as he was called to the referee, but he must have been relieved to see only a yellow. The free-kick was blasted into the wall by Miller but City had served notice that they intended to fight tooth and nail in this game.

The forward play became more and more energetic, the spirit typified by the impressive Simpson and the increasingly influential Bell. The home fans were becoming restless as City seized the initiative. However, at the other end there was always the threat of Claridge and on the hour, the ex-Portsmouth professional weaved his way into the area, squared the ball delicately for Buckle but his shot was blocked by Lee Chaffey, the rebound fell invitingly for Nightingale but his first time shot was blocked brilliantly by Davies and behind for a corner.

City then introduced Congo International Carlin Itongo into the action, the former Arsenal junior coming on for the injured Shane Wardley. A minute later the referee awarded a highly dubious penalty against City. Robbie Nightingale and Weymouth substitute Kevin Gill collided just inside the area and the referee harshly pointed to the spot. Up stepped the white-booted Steve Tully but unfortunately for the home fans he ballooned the penalty kick against the stand. Justice appeared to be done, and inspired by this, City upped the tempo with Bell, Baillie, Simpson and now Itongo in the thick of things. Although they all worked hard to get on terms, City found the final telling ball elusive as the minutes ticked by.

The final chance of the game fell the way of the home side. After a period of neat possession play, Martin Barlow dinked the ball over the top of the City defence for Claridge to thrash the ball goalbound only for Davies to pull off an acrobatic stop, thus denying Clardge the matchball. The final whistle sounded soon afterwards and City, despite a much improved performance, had to head home pointless from the south coast.