Cambridge managed to shrug off a confusing week behind the scenes at the Abbey Stadium to get a vital victory in their battle against relegation.
French coach Claude le Roy was announced as the new manager but almost immediately contradicted the statement saying he was coming only as advisor.
But his assistant Herve Renard arrived to work with coach Dale Brooks and between them they produced a side which improved dramatically on previous displays to race into a two goal lead against Cheltenham after only eight minutes.
Midfielder Justin Walker recalled after four months on the sidelines, played a key part and set up the fifth minute move which enabled teenager John Turner to score the club's 2000th League goal.
Three minutes later the 17-year-old striker hit the centre which was on its way to Luke Guttridge when the midfielder was felled by a head high challenge from defender Michael Duff. Shane Tudor scored from the penalty spot.
It took Cheltenham until the last quarter of the match to make a fight of it after Paul Brayson pulled a goal back from a well worked move in the 72nd minute.
But Cambridge deserved what was only their fourth home win as Cheltenham failed to improve on an away record showing just two victories.
Cheltenham boss John Ward was scathing of his side, commenting: "I could hear our fans having a go and I agree with everything they said. It was a very poor performance.
"I am still learning about the team and I saw a lot of things in this game I didn't like.
We have to have a rapid improvement." For Cambridge, Brooks commented: "To be honest we haven't done anything very new in training under the new set up but the players have realised the responsibility they have to their own careers as well as to the club.
"It was a good all round display, showing a lot of confidence which gives us a lot of hope for our last seven matches."