A Paul Digby header and strikes from Dayle Grubb and Matt Worthington proved enough to hand Forest Green Rovers an important three points against Cambridge United at The Abbey Stadium.

Jevani Brown opened the scoring after 21 minutes before Digby’s header levelled the encounter up before the break. Two great finishes from Grubb and Worthington as well as a red card for Jake Carroll extended Forest Green’s unbeaten run to 11 league games.

Mark Cooper made three changes to the side that settled for a point against Macclesfield Town on Saturday, bringing in Tahvon Campbell, Farrend Rawson and the weekend’s goal scorer Dayle Grubb for George Williams, Gavin Gunning and Carl Winchester.

The opening five minutes were marginally dominated by the hosts, but Forest Green Rovers were the first to create a chance of note. Grubb did well to win the ball in the heart of the midfield before driving forward and finding Reid on the right, the striker’s pull-back eventually finding Lloyd James who fired wide with some power from outside the area.

Rovers seemed the better of the two sides throughout the early part of the game but with 22 minutes on the clock, Brown picked up the ball and raced through on goal before finishing past Robert Sanchez with aplomb.

Just two minutes later Cambridge United looked to have doubled their advantage as Rovers failed to properly clear a cross and George Maris fired his effort home from the edge of the area. The linesman’s flag however, brought an end to celebrations at The Abbey Stadium, the officials adjudging the shot to have been deflected in from an offside position.

Having been given the nod to start the game, Campbell was more than repaying his manager’s faith, causing all sorts of problems down the right-hand side.

With just over half an hour on the clock it was Campbell’s skill and speed that won the free-kick from which Rovers would find their equaliser.

Mills free-kick was right on the money and Digby was able to make a great run into the area before rising high and flicking an excellent header in to the far corner of David Forde’s goal.

The rest of the half progressed without either keeper being forced to make a save although Reece Brown had a chance with four minutes of the half to play but he couldn’t bring the ball under control and the two sides headed into the break all square.

The U’s started the second half brightly and with 48 minutes on the clock Jabo Ibehre did well to find space on the left and with the Forest Green defence backing off he let fly but Sanchez got down well to palm the powerful effort away.

With 56 minutes on the clock, Forest Green could very easily have found themselves a goal down, but in fact, took the lead.

Brown tried to turn a cross home for Cambridge, but the outstretched leg of Sanchez not only denied the striker but also set his side on the break. Campbell showed great tenacity to pursue a loose ball and although his initial cross was half cleared, Grubb was on hand to casually curl a shot into the top corner.

Digby could have doubled his total goal tally for the club with 73 minutes on the clock but, as the the ball dropped to him in the area, his shot was excellently blocked.

The result was somewhat sealed for Rovers with 15 minutes to go as Carroll was given his marching orders for a rash challenge on Liam Shephard right in front of the linesman.

Substitute Worthington was able to round the night off for the visitors as he drove a powerful effort into the bottom corner from outside the area to open his goalscoring account in green.

Although Grubb had one final chance from the left deep into added time, he couldn’t beat Forde.

Carl Winchester had the final effort of the encounter with all five minutes of added time elapsed as he thundered an effort off the crossbar.

Man of the Match: Tahvon Campbell

Attendance: 3059 (61 from FGR)

Cambridge Utd. XI: Forde, Halliday, Carroll, Taylor, Deegan, O’Neil (Amoo 54’), Ibehre (Azeez 74’), Maris, Lambe, Brown (Corr 79’), John

Unused Subs: Iron, Taft, Osadebe, Lewis

FGR XI: Sanchez, Shephard, James (Gunning 69’), Rawson (Worthington 70’), Grubb, Brown (Winchester 62’), Campbell, McGinley, Digby, Mills, Reid

Unused Subs: Montgomery, Williams, Archibald, Morris

Image: ProSports Images/Shane Healey