Cambridge extended their unbeaten League Two run to four matches with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Crawley to move up to seventh.
The U’s struck with the first chance of the game after 13 minutes. A Shane McLoughlin corner came off a Crawley defender and fell to forward Shayne Lavery, who fired home from close range.
Lavery was then played in by a superb Kylian Kouassi pass but was denied by the legs of goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott.
Five minutes after the restart, Cambridge struck in similar circumstances to their first goal.
A set piece – James Brophy’s free-kick this time – came off a defender and allowed Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu to drill home his first goal for the club.
A third goal arrived seven minutes later as Brophy darted down the right and squared the ball to give Kouassi a simple finish from close range.
Crawley pulled one back after 66 minutes when Harry McKirdy’s effort was stopped by Jake Eastwood before Kabongo Tshimanga forced the ball home.
Visiting boss Scott Lindsey was booked before Dion Conroy headed onto a Cambridge post late on but the hosts held on.
