Ace Grubb makes the grade at the Lawn

FORMER schoolteacher Dayle Grubb taught Cambridge a lesson as struggling Forest Green Rovers registered a much-needed victory in their fight against the drop.

Signed from National League South side Weston-super-Mare earlier this month, the 25-year-old netted twice on his first home start to help Rovers achieve their biggest League Two win of the season.

Christian Doidge also scored two to take his tally for the season to 19 while Tahvon Campbell, a new loan signing from West Brom, came off the bench to add a fifth at the death – and all this after Cambridge had twice led through firsthalf goals from George Maris and Medy Elito.

Delighted Forest Green boss Mark Cooper said of midfielder Grubb: “He’s shown in his first two games that he can deal with the level.

“I thought he linked up well with the strikers effectively. He took his goals well and he will get better with continued hard work.”

Looking at the bigger picture, Cooper added: “We’ve won, Chesterfield have won and we’re dragging other teams into it.

“There are five or six teams within striking distance now and we have to keep this up.”

Cooper named four of his seven January recruits in his starting XI yet saw his side fall prey to familiar defensive short-comings early on.

U’s striker Uche Ikpeazu proved the architect of both goals, setting up Maris to fire in from close range after three minutes and then inviting Elito to direct an angled shot beyond keeper Brad Collins.

But Rovers demonstrated great spirit in adversity, twice coming from behind to restore parity.

Doidge turned in a cross from Dan Wishart in the 18th minute and then set up Grubb to net his first league goal moments before halftime.

Grubb added to his tally with 16 minutes remaining, stepping inside a challenge and unleashing a powerful shot from 20 yards that flew past U’s keeper David Forde and into the top corner.

Seven minutes later, Forde kicked an attempted clearance straight to Doidge, who slotted the ball past him and at the death, there was still time for Campbell to score from the edge of the box in added time.

Cambridge manager Shaun Derry said: “We started well, played on the front foot and scored some good goals.Then we conceded some terrible goals and caused ourselves all sorts of problems.”