Chelsea moved top of the Under-18 Premier League South table after the young Blues recorded a 4-3 win over previous leaders West Ham United.
Hassan Sulaiman's side went into the fixture at Cobham knowing victory would put them in a commanding position in the table, especially as the Blues have three games in hand on West Ham.
After falling behind early on, Donnell McNeilly's goal ensured we went in level at the break. It was a platform from which we quickly built in the second half as Tyrique George struck twice in two minutes and Ato Ampah added our fourth moments later.
West Ham did attempt a fightback and two late goals from the visitors ensured a nervy end. However, Chelsea held on to claim a seventh straight win in the league and earn top spot.
The report There was a far more familiar look to the starting XI selected by Sulaiman compared to the very young side that started our previous victory over Reading before the international break.
Yet West Ham started the brighter and Tyron Akpata struck the post with a header from a corner inside the opening minutes. It was a warning shot that wasn't heeded by the young Blues.
Shortly after the quarter-hour mark, West Ham went ahead. Genesis Antwi was ruled to have brought down West Ham's Jethro Medine just inside the area - although it was a tight call - and Daniel Rigge stepped up to convert from 12 yards.
A response was needed from Chelsea and it arrived just eight minutes later.
The West Ham defence failed to clear a cross from Harrison Murray-Campbell and a scramble in the box ensued. Donnell McNeilly, who has been a reliable presence in front of goal this season across the age groups, reacted first to score his 25th of the campaign.
Chelsea dominated possession for the rest of the half and pinned the Hammers back in their defensive third. George saw a couple of shots from inside the box blocked as West Ham defended well.
After the half-time interval, Chelsea continued to probe the Irons' backline and George twice threatened. A breakthrough finally came in the 56th minute; it temporarily opened the floodgates.
George put Chelsea ahead as a cross from Murray-Campbell was cleared to the winger, who collected the ball, shifted it onto his left foot and reversed a shot into the near corner beyond West Ham goalkeeper Finlay Jacob Herrick.
From the restart, Chelsea quickly pressed the visitors into a rushed clearance, regained the ball in the final third, and Reiss Russell-Denny produced a wonderful through ball to George, who this time fired across Herrick to score.
West Ham were rattled and conceded again two minutes later. This time, a flicked header enabled Ampah to break beyond the visiting backline and he produced a cool finish to beat Herrick.
The young Blues didn't sit back. Herrick denied McNeilly his second before the excellent George teed up Shim Mheuka inside the box, but the substitute's effort was also saved.
West Ham had won their previous four league fixtures heading into the game and regained a foothold in the contest when Josh Ajala reduced the deficit with a clever flick beyond Merrick after a swift counter-attack.
And when the same player curled home from the edge of the box with three minutes to play, Chelsea had to display composure and maturity to see out the match, which they did well to end the day top of the table and in a strong position in the title race.
The Teams Chelsea (3-4-3): Max Merrick; Harrison Murray-Campbell, Genesis Antwi Kaiden Wilson; Travis Akomeah, Harrison McMahon, Ollie Harrison (c), Ato Ampah (Frankie Runham); Donnell McNeilly, Reiss Russell-Denny (Shumaira Mheuka), Tyrique George (Shaun Wade).
Unused subs: Freddy Bernal, Saheed Olagunju.
Scorers: McNeilly 25', George 56' 57', Ampah 59'
West Ham (3-4-3): Herrick; Medine, Caliste (Halim), Briggs; Oyebade, Golambeckis, Akpata (c), Nwosu (Dike); Ajala, Adiele, Rigge (Hargan).
Unused subs: Hooper, Sowanmi,
Scorers: Rigge 17', Ajala 77' 88'