Mark Beesley scored twice in eight minutes to earn third-placed Cambridge a hard-fought victory at Rushden.

Jon Challinor almost put Rushden ahead in the first half but headed straight at Danny Potter.

But Cambridge went ahead on 65 minutes when Robert Wolleaston set up Beesley and he shot low into the corner.

Beesley doubled the lead when he converted Courtney Pitt's cross before Michael Rankine's finish from six yards set up a frantic finish.

Rushden & D'monds: Roberts, Corcoran, Gulliver, Hope, Howell, Tomlin, Shaw, Woodhouse, Burgess, Challinor (Smith 85), Rankine.
Subs Not Used: Margarson, Gooding, Platt, El Kholti.

Booked: Rankine, Challinor, Burgess.

Goals: Rankine 75.

Cambridge Utd: Potter, Morrison, Albrighton, Hatswell, Brown (Jeffery 81), Farrell, Carden (Reed 48), Wolleaston, Pitt, Boylan (Vieira 90), Beesley.
Subs Not Used: Smith, Willmott.

Booked: Brown.

Goals: Beesley 65, 73.

Att: 2,358

Ref: B Malone (Wiltshire).