Lee McEvilly chalked up his fifth of the season to open the scoring for Cambridge with a wonderful free-kick on 42 minutes before Mark Beesley turned in a second in first half injury-time.

That quick double blow hit the Terras hard so when Cameron Mawer was dismissed on 64 minutes there looked no way back.

However, Weymouth boss John Hollins took the bold decision to push three up front and go for broke and it did the trick with Chris McPhee and Michael Malcolm both registering to land the hosts a share of the spoils.

But that was only half the story. Some baffling decisions by the three officials ensured the game ended in controversy with the biggest talking point being Beesley's late strike that was cleared off the line by Stephen Reed.

Cambridge were adamant that the ball had crossed and also complained that their former team-mate had handled it but nothing was given much to the relief of the Terras' faithful.

Pierre Joseph-Dubois once again missed out with a thigh strain while Mark Convery was named as a Cambridge substitute. The midfielder enjoyed a successful loan spell at the Wessex last season.

Danny Potter, another former Terra, started between the posts for the visitors who began the afternoon in second place.

The hosts raced out of the blocks winning two corners in the opening minute before Ryan Williams tried to catch out Potter from distance only to find the keeper's hands after a poor clearance.

Beesley fired an effort wide from 18 yards for the U's on 17 minutes but it was the Terras that continued to look the livelier outfit.

However, United did create another opening three minutes later when Robbie Wilmott crossed from the right and found Felino Jardim whose volley was cleared to safety by a combination of keeper Richard Barnard and Scott Doe.

McEvilly was beginning to cause problems for the U's and moments later he used his power to engineer some space and test Barnard who stood up well to push the ball away.

The Terras replied with an effort from Reed that whistled just past the right upright before Williams had a drive across the face of goal cleared from within the six-yard box.

A lull in play full of stoppages followed and it was not until the 42nd minute that McEvilly re-ignited the action with a stunning free-kick from 22 yards.

The powerhouse looked like he might leather one but instead he caressed the ball over the defensive wall and into the top left corner to the delight of the United fans behind the goal.

To their credit the Terras responded superbly and nearly levelled two minutes later when Williams raced on to a fine ball from Reed only to see his shot blocked wide by Potter.

However, the hosts then received another setback when McEvilly climbed well to head down to the feet of Beesley who took a great first touch before turning the ball past Bernard and into the corner of the net.

Santos Gaia went close to getting one back in the opening stages of the second half when he poked wide on the stretch before Paul Carden clattered into Reed on the halfway line with a nasty challenge that brought him a yellow card.

As the half drew on the Terras became more and more frustrated and on 64 minutes an incident down in front of the Weymouth dugout ended with Mawer receiving a straight red card.

The full back cleared the ball up field while lying on the deck and then according to referee Paul Melin kicked out at Jardim.

Mawer left the field looking very hard done by and moments later McEvilly had a great chance to make it three but Barnard came out and spread himself well to keep his effort out.

The Terras desperately needed a lift and with 19 minutes remaining they got it after a terrible misjudgement by Melin.

Malcolm had a cross from the right blocked by the arm of defender Anthony Tonkin but despite the incident occurring well inside the area the official gave a free-kick outside the box to everyone's amazement. Thankfully for the hosts the error did not thwart them from reducing the deficit as McPhee fired home from close range after Reed's driven free-kick was cleared off the line.

Gaps were now opening up all over the pitch as the home side continued to throw caution to the wind and on 80 minutes McEvilly missed a glaring opportunity to kill the game when he headed over at the far post from five yards.

Then came an incredible equaliser with seven minutes remaining when some incisive passing around the Cambridge box saw Reed play in Malcolm who slotted the ball into the right corner past Potter.

United were stunned and their frustration was compounded by Weymouth who were now attempting to shut up shop.

The visitors did have one opportunity to grab the winner in the dying minutes with Beesley's late strike that seemed to cross the line before Reed's intervention but the assistant referee kept his flag down as the Terras held on for a precious point.