In-form Cambridge came out on top in a pulsating National One encounter making it just one defeat in the last 13 for Grantchester Road team and consigned Cinderford to a third straight defeat.
The home side opened the scoring when debutant outside-half Harry Johnston landed a penalty after 14 minutes. The visitors responded well with centre Jamie Forrester scoring a try from a perfectly executed move, with Reece Boughton converting and soon afterwards he also kicked a penalty. Cambridge scored their opening try when the prolific Ben Brownlie touched down from a driving maul, but it was the Forest team who ended the first-half on top when winger Will Baldwin got on the end of a well-judged cross-field kick from Boughton to score a try, which the fly-half also converted to make 8-15 at the interval.
The hosts were soon back on level terms as the second-half got underway with Brownlie scoring 19th try of the season from another driving maul, which Johnston converted. Boughton put Cinderford back in front with a penalty, but Jake McCloud scored a third try for the home team from another powerful forward surge before Boughton edged his team back ahead with his third penalty. The decisive score came with ten minutes remaining when home full-back Joe Tarrant broke clear to score in the far corner, with Johnston converting well from the touchline.
Cinderford finished strongly but were unable to create a clear scoring opportunity and Cambridge held on to claim their victory.