Worcester Park outfought a muscular Chobham team to go to the top of Combined Counties League Division One on Saturday, writes Darren Talbot.

They had to come from behind, though, with Chobham having taken a shock fourth-minute lead. McKinley’s inswinging corner was met almost unchallenged by Luke Newtstead and tricked in off the post.

Carl Chaney had an eighth-minute goal ruled out for a challenge on the keeper, while James Williams headed over Gary Knowelden’s free kick shortly afterwards.

Otherwise, clear chances were few and far between as man-mountain Chobham skipper Richard Keown and his defence mopped up everything, especially in the air.

Park made the breakthrough five minutes before half time when Chaney outjumped the Chobham keeper to head Dan Dunning’s high cross into the empty net.

That goal changed the momentum and, just two minutes later, Dunning ran at the defence and his deflected ball across the box was controlled by Chad Heuston with his left foot before he superbly drove it into the bottom corner for his fourth goal of the season.

With Chobham in disarray, Knowelden’s shot just before half-time was scrambled off the line.

Chobham worked hard to get back into the game in the second half but neither side looked like making a breakthrough against two solid defensive teams.

However, on 59 minutes Gary Knowelden played the ball down the left wing to Heuston who found James Dunning in space and Dunning rifled the ball into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Shaw no chance.

Chobham did not give up and 10 minutes later it was 3-2 after a rare defensive slip in the centre of the Worcester Park penalty area deflected the ball to Chris Land who lashed the ball past the diving King.

Land nearly made it 3-3 in the 76th minute but Peter King saved well.

Four minutes from time, a poor late challenge by Land on Mick Petruzziello led to a scuffle on the halfway line and both players were booked as were Peter King and Richard Keown who took up their own battle in the Chobham half.

The resulting eight minutes of added time were not enough for Chobham to find the equaliser, which on balance, they probably deserved.

Worcester Park: King; Drew (Gardiner 63), Beale, J Williams (Stones 45), D Dunning; Chaney (D Knowelden 52), Calicott, Petruzziello, G Knowelden; J Dunning, Heuston.

Chobham: Shaw; Thorogood (Doble 68), K Newstead, Paterson, Keown, Masey, Land, Khan, Rocha (Masluk 58), L Newstead, McKinley. Sub not used: Ward