Kayden Jackson celebrated his 13th goal of the season to lift Accrington Stanley into second spot with a 1-0 win over in-form Cambridge.
The managerless U's had won their last three games but came up against Stanley who now have six straight victories at the Wham Stadium.
Cambridge had the better first half chances. Liam O'Neil's header hit the crossbar in the seventh minute while Stanley keeper Aaron Chapman kept out Jevani Brown's strike.
A Billy Waters scrambled effort ended up in the arms of Chapman while Stanley's Sean McConville forced the first save out of David Forde on the stroke of half-time.
The U's top scorer Uche Ikpeazu should have broken the deadlock after the break as the striker only had Chapman to beat but the stopper denied him with his legs.
Stanley took the lead on 57 minutes when Jackson's persistence paid off. The highly-rated striker pressed defender George Taft, won the ball and turned and fired home.
Cambridge kept pressing with Waters the main danger while Brad Halliday poked an effort just wide.