LISTEN to Jim Harvey and you hear a manager who preaches the purer delights and skills of the game.

Beginning his career at Arsenal alongside fellow Irishman Liam Brady, it makes sense to understand why his team play such free-flowing football.

The season has certainly been stacked with ups and downs, but hear the response of the fans and they will tell you why Harvey is regarded as the best outside the Football League.

The Nailsworth minnows continue to punch above their weight and this was again exemplified at second-placed Cambridge United as hot-shot Andy Mangan struck the only goal of the game in the 14th minute as Rovers made it three wins on the trot.

Wayne Hatswell headed Cambridge's best effort onto the crossbar in the 56th minutes, from a Chris Holroyd cross.

But Forest Green held on for the win that lifts them seven points clear of the Blue Square Premier drop zone.

Harvey said: “It was quite an achievement for a club our size to come to such a big club as Cambridge and get a deserved win like this.”

Harvey showed some nifty footwork after the final whistle with a jig of delight, but was annoyed by his team’s four yellow cards.

“We suffered a lot of provocation, but it was our players who were getting booked - the referee had a poor game.

“Our game plan worked well during the first half and when it was disrupted by Cambridge going tally ho after the break, we caught them out and could have won by more.”

Earlier, Rovers were forced to travel without Alex Lawless.

Former Forest Green loan striker Scott Rendell fluffed a great chance in the ninth minute after an excellent ball from Chris Holroyd.

However, the burgeoning partnership between David Brown and Mangan flourished as Brown slipped a pass into the Cambridge box for Mangan to rifle home a left-footed drive past Potter for his 24th goal of the season.

Cambridge only looked like a side on the crest of a five match winning run after the break. Dary McMahon’s 83rd minute strike was saved superbly by Terry Burton. In stoppage time Holroyd shot over with Rendell pleading for a pass.

Cambridge Utd: Potter, Ainge, Bolland (Challinor 35), Hatswell, Tonkin, Parkinson (Crow 64), Carden, Reason (McMahon 81), Willmott, Rendell, Holroyd.

Subs Not Used: Pitt, Phillips. Booked: Holroyd.

Forest Green: Burton, Jones, Preece, Ayres, Stonehouse, Lloyd (Mohamed 62), Smith, Fowler, Platt (McDonald 82), Mangan, Brown (Rigoglioso 82).

Subs Not Used : Robinson, Ashford.

Booked: Fowler, Brown, Stonehouse, Preece, Smith.

Star man: Mark Preece.

Goals: Mangan 14.

Att: 3,245.

Ref: Paul Tierney (Wigan).