Armando Broja's late winner sent Chelsea top of Premier League 2 Division 1 as the Blues managed to edge past Tottenham Hotspur at The Lamex Stadium.
In a tight game with few clear chances, the high finish from Broja was a rare moment of quality in an otherwise disappointing meeting between the two London rivals.
While Broja settled the game on 81 minutes, Spurs could feel slightly aggrieved after making a number of dangerous situations without creating too many genuine openings for their forwards.
Chelsea go top as a result, while Spurs stay mid-table a further ten points back.
Spurs started the game fast in the first half but failed to make their early dominance count with a goal.
Both Shilow Tracey and Dilon Markanday looked dangerous on either wing and were able to push their full-backs back towards their own goal with the ball at their feet.
Chelsea struggled to get out as a result and within the opening ten minutes both Markanday and Tashan Oakley-Boothe had shooting chances.
However, Chelsea did grow into the game slowly and on 13 minutes they had their first chance when Tariq Uwakwe shot wide from a George McEachran ball over the top.
Ten minutes later and the Blues went the closest of either side to breaking the deadlock, when Spurs failed to clear a McEachran corner and Marc Guehi came close to poking the ball home.
By this point Chelsea were beginning to get on top and on 34 minutes Elliot Thorpe fouled the onrushing Charlie Brown in a dangerous attacking position.
McEachran didn't make the most of the resulting free kick though and despite their dominance in possession towards the end of the half, Chelsea failed to make many more chances.
In fact, one of the better efforts of the half came late on from Tracey, when he shot just wide from edge of the box, following more good work from Markanday.
In an attempt to add to their attacking play Chelsea replaced the slightly anonymous Thierno Ballo at the half with Jon Russell, who like Ballo looked to play close to forward Brown.
However, Spurs started the second half with a similar intent to which they started the first and very nearly opened the scoring within two minutes when Rodel Richards shot wide from the edge of the area.
The following five minutes followed a similar pattern to that of the first half too, with the midfield fiercely contested and neither side able to play effectively through the middle.
Tactical fouling in the midfield contributed to this too and on 55 minutes half time replacement Russell was carded for a cynical foul on Oakley-Boothe.
Spurs goalkeeper Brandon Austin was yellowed a few minutes later too after kicking the ball away to stop a quick Chelsea corner, but the Blues were unable to take advantage of the following set piece.
Chelsea continued to dominate possession but were unable to use it effectively, with the Spurs centre-back pair of Timothy Emoya and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster keeping Brown and Russell quiet.
And Spurs' staunch defence was very nearly rewarded on 69 minutes when Oakley-Boothe's side footed effort went just wide.
A minute later and Spurs replaced the carded Thorpe with Phoenix Patterson who came into an attacking midfield role, with Oakley-Boothe dropping deeper.
With just 15 minutes to go the game did open up, with space appearing in midfield for the first time in the match.
On 79 minutes, Patterson went closer than anyone all half when he shot wide on the run after latching onto a tidy through ball from Emoya.
Minutes later though and Chelsea finally broke the deadlock when Broja shot high into the Spurs net to make it 1-0.
It was a smart finish from the winger who had become isolated in the second half, but had continued to show flashes of skill when the ball was at his feet.
Nonetheless, his goal settled the match and sent Chelsea top of Premier League 2 Division 1.
THFC
Austin
Okedina Eyoma Lyons-Foster Hinds
Oakley-Boothe Thorpe Shashoua
Markanday Richards Tracey
CFC
Cumming
Lawrence Wakely Guehi Maatsen
Mola McEachran
Broja Ballo Uwakwe
Brown
