Cambridge United's dreadful home record, the worst in Division Three, extended to just two wins in 13 matches when they were outgunned by Huddersfield in a scrappy match.
The big difference in an otherwise close encounter was that Cambridge had no bite following the £250,000 transfer of Dave Kitson to Reading, where as Huddersfield have managed to ward off big money offers for their top scorer Jonathan Stead.
Cambridge failed to worry the Terriers defence until the closing stages when Adam Tann had a shot saved and in the 89th minute stabbed in a consolation goal.
Stead rammed home a penalty for his 18th goal of the season after handball by Andrew Duncan in the 43rd minute. And the game was as good as decided in the 84th minute when he headed the ball down at a corner kick for Jonathan Worthington to score with an overhead kick.
It lifted Huddersfield into the play off places after four wins on the trot and made it nine visits out of nine to the Abbey Stadium without defeat.
Terriers boss Peter Jackson revealed: "We had to battle a bit but I knew if we defended well this was a game we could win.
"We put our away jinx behind us and now we are right in there for promotion." Cambridge boss John Taylor failed to appear at the press conference, instead carrying out a post mortem in the dressing room which went on for an hour after the final whistle.
Cambridge chairman Gary Harwood made an attempt to speak to the fans at half time about the controversial transfer of Kitson but was booed and jeered by the supporters who shouted him down.