THIS top of the table clash between league leaders Worsthorne and second placed Chatburn looked to be all over bar the shouting as Worsthorne raced into a 4-0 half time lead.

Looking every bit true title contenders, Worsthorne swept away a Chatburn defence, looking ill-equipped for this level of football, with a combination of aggressive running, imaginative approach work and clinical finishing.

But in a stirring second half fight back Chatburn looked like taking an unlikely point as they pulled the score back to 4-3.

Their hopes were finally killed off by a Worsthorne side who had started in fine style.

They were in front after just four minutes.

Craig Wilkinson's perfectly executed back heel opened up space for Darren Forrest to hit a powerful shot from 15 yards, low into the bottom left hand post.

Chatburn countered with two crisp attacking moves that saw Trevor Watkins go close with a shot from six yards out that produced an excellent reflex save from Worsthorne's keeper Darren Mitcheson.

But while Chatburn looked lively on the break, their defending left a lot to be desired as Forrest picked out Steve Barker wide on the right of the penalty area and he drove past Paul Craig for number two.

Chatburn's player-manager Andy King thought he had pulled one back when he beat his defender and flashed a low shot destined for the far corner only to see Mitcheson produce a brilliant point blank save, palming the ball to safety.

King had hardly time to shake off his disappointment when his side went 3-0 down. Wilkinson showing blistering pace, met and buried a Mark Harrison ball, driven hard across the face of Chatburn's goal for a delightful opportunist goal in the 25th minute.

Harrison supplied another killer ball five minutes later, this time for Michael Trigay and he hit goal number four with the Chatburn defence mere spectators.

At the other end King's frustration reached boiling point when his shot from the edge of the box beat Mitcheson, only to bounce to safety off the crossbar.

What King said to his players during the interval is anyone's guess, but within a minute of returning to the field Chatburn pulled a goal back. From an Ali Bradshaw corner Tom Benfield was unceremoniously brought down inside the box and Bradshaw made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Chatburn pushed forward again and to Worsthorne's dismay grabbed a second in the 65th minute. A long through ball from Danny Cuff was played first time by Watkins into the danger area and Young steered the ball home from 10 yards.

Seven minutes later Chatburn caused real concern when Watkins stole in on the blind side and tucked away a Tom Bartlett cross from five yards to set up a nail-biting finish.

But any thoughts of Chatburn sharing the points were wiped away when Wilkinson collected the ball from a throw deep in the Chatburn half. Needing only a split second to pick his spot, he unleashed a thunderbolt from 25 yards that hit the top left hand corner and left Craig clutching fresh air.

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