James Gibbons scored the only goal as Cambridge deservedly beat Salford to move five points clear of their League Two promotion rivals.
The home side missed a big chance in the ninth minute when a deep Kell Watts cross found Gibbons, who could only fire wide.
After Matt Young held a Mamadou Jobe header, the Us again created a big chance on the half-hour when Young denied Sullay Kaikai at the end of a rapid Cambridge break.
Their dominance was rewarded four minutes after half-time when James Brophy’s free-kick from near halfway was guided into the far corner by a superb Gibbons header.
Salford offered very little, being handed their first real opening on 75 minutes when goalkeeper Jake Eastwood gifted them the ball before recovering to deny Princewill Ehibhatiomhan.
Three minutes later Eastwood made a vital stop when Ryan Graydon had been played through on goal.
Shayne Lavery could only fire weakly at Young five minutes from the end, but the Us had done enough to solidify their position of third in the table.
Report supplied by PA Media.