Sutton Common Rovers maintained third spot in the Combined Counties Premier Division, thanks to a hard fought 2-1 win over in-form CB Hounslow United, writes Gary Brigden.

It was the ultimate game of two halves, with the visitors content to let Rovers dominate possession in the first half, before changing style in the second half and putting Rovers under a lot of pressure.

Rovers though had been dominant in the first half, and opened the scoring on eight minutes when Andrew White latched onto a mistake by CB defender Hussein Heidli and rolled beyond keeper Rhys Forster for 1-0.

SCR continued to put the visitors under pressure, with Matt Ferdinando having a shot well saved and the follow up by Daryl Cooper-Smith being turned behind. Rovers increased their lead on 23 minutes, a flighted ball into the area was only half cleared to the penalty spot, and Cooper-Smith thundered the ball beyond Forster for 2-0.

When Asa Rixon thumped a header against the post on the half hour it looked to be a case of how many but Rovers had to be content with a two goal half time lead.

CB came flying out of the traps in the second half, and were back in the game inside 30 seconds when a clipped ball into the area by Thomas Kanek was glanced home by Jack Watts for 2-1.

It was now Rovers turn to defend, and twice they were grateful to keeper Michael Eacott for big saves from Adam Roberts.

Rovers did have their chances though, and from one goalmouth scramble Cooper-Smith, Andrew White and Matt Farrell all saw efforts blocked. Eacott saved well from a deflected Kanek free kick, and the game should have been sealed in the final minute when Cooper-Smith somehow fired wide from the edge of the six yard box.

There was one last scare, but Eacott claimed a hanging cross and SCR picked up all three points.

Next up for Rovers is Saturday's trip to second placed Bedfont Sports in what should be an absolute cracker of a game.