GARRY Hill admitted his tactical gamble failed to pay off as Weymouth crashed 4-1 at second-placed Cambridge City.

The Terras saw their slim Conference South play-offs effectively ended after the hosts struck four second-half goals at Milton Road.

Substitute Brian Dutton netted a last-minute consolation for the visitors who included debutants Charlie Macdonald, Steven Clark and Vil Powell.

Despite the heavy defeat, boss Hill felt his side were unlucky not to return to Dorset with at least a point.

He told Echosport: "The result flattered Cambridge big time.

"If you had said to anyone watching the game on the hour it would end 4-1 to them, I'm sure they would have said 'You're mad'.

"For 60 minutes we were the better side and probably should have been ahead with the rub of the green.

"Vil Powell had a couple of decent chances and we also thought we might have had a penalty for a foul on Charlie Macdonald just before they opened the scoring.

"The way the game was shaped up, the first goal was always going to be decisive and it proved that way.

"Once Cambridge got their noses ahead we took a gamble to try and get back in it because we firmly believed the points were there for the taking and unfortunately that decision didn't pay off.

"We went for it today because we knew we had to win if we were to keep any hope of reaching the play-offs alive.

"That's why I took the decision to start with three forwards in Kirk Jackson, Vil and Charlie who all did well considered it was their first game together."