Strikes from Tom Soares and Danny Pugh were enough to secure a second successive victory for the Potters second string in an entertaining Premier Reserve League South fixture at Griffin Park this evening.
Livewire winger Soares expertly drilled the ball past the impressive Rhys Taylor late on, after it looked like he had done enough to earn Chelsea an undeserved point, before Pugh wrapped up the points with a well taken second in stoppage time.
The hosts almost took the lead midway through the first half after Andy Wilkinson was wrongly adjudged to have felled Ben Gordon inside the penalty area.
However, Steve Simonsen came to City's rescue though as he comfortably saved from the resulting spot kick.
The visitors were on top for long periods of the game and should have secured a more comfortable victory with Pericard, Cresswell and Whelan all going close.
Ahead of the clash First Team Coach Mark O'Connor named a strong City line up with the likes of Tom Soares, Michael Tonge and Leon Cort all starting.
Former Brentford star Ibrahima Sonko was also included in the line up as the Potters looked to follow up their 2-0 victory over West Brom with another three points at Griffin Park.
The match kicked off and it was the visitors who started the brighter of the two sides. Some neat play down the left flank between Vincent Pericard and Tonge resulted in the Frenchman firing across a dangerous ball which Soares flicked wide of Rhys Taylor's left hand post.
Five minutes later City again went close through Richard Cresswell. The former Preston star neatly controlled and swivelled inside the 18-yard box after Soares cleverly picked him out, however his effort was brilliantly blocked by the outstretched leg of Liam Bridcutt.
A youthful Chelsea team continued to struggle against their more experienced counter parts, who should have taken the lead in the 18th minute.
An exquisite ball from former Sheffield United man Tonge freed Soares through the middle, but he rushed his effort and Taylor saved well down to his right.
Minutes later, the England Under 21 international had to be equally alert to thwart Republic of Ireland midfielder Whelan, who should have done better from 8-yards.
The hosts almost took an undeserved lead themselves midway through the first half, but Jacob Mellis blazed over the bar after Miroslav Stoch cutely played him through.
A Rory Delap-esque long throw in almost led to the opening goal of the game after 30 minutes, but with Cresswell ready to pounce from 5-yards, Bridcutt again came to his side's rescue to block the strikers effort.
The hosts gradually clawed their way back into the game as the first half wore on, but they struggled to find a way past Cork and Sonko at the heart of the backline.
Neither side made any changes during the half time interval, and once the game restarted it was the visitors who continued to look the more likely to break the deadlock.
An outstanding run from Soares was almost capped off by a sublime finish, however his effort cannoned off the inside of the post before being swept away from danger by Jeffrey Bruma.
Cort and Cresswell both sprung the offside trap minutes later but they hesitated and left Whelan's pin-point centre for each other before watching the ball roll out of play for a goal kick.
The lively Pericard twice went close shortly after but his efforts were expertly saved by the impressive Chelsea stopper Taylor.
A moment of madness from the referee gifted the hosts the perfect opportunity to take the lead just after the hour, when he awarded a penalty for an alleged foul by Andy Wilkinson.
German striker Stoch stepped up and fired goalwards, however justice prevailed as Simonsen saved superbly down to his right.
The former Everton stopper then had to be at his best to deny Michael Woods from close range, before Whelan went close at the other end with a 30-yard effort.
City's patience was finally rewarded with just over ten minutes remaining as Soares got the crucial breakthrough.
The winger excellently controlled Tonge's deep cross from the left, beat his marker and drilled the ball under Taylor from 6-yards to give the visitors a thoroughly deserved lead.
An absolute thunderbolt from Pericard nearly sealed the points moments later but Taylor reacted outstandingly to tip his long range effort onto the post, before Tonge drilled into the side netting.
With the hosts pushing forward in the hope of grabbing an equaliser, City caught them on a quick counter attack and Pugh smashed the ball past Taylor from 25-yards to wrap up a comfortable win.
CHELSEA (4-4-2): Taylor; Ofori-Twumasi, Gordon (Nielsen, 87), Bridcutt, Bruma; Sinclair, Mellis, Mineiro, Stoch; Borini, Woods (Tejera-Rodriguez, 74). Subs (Not Used): Heimann, Fernandes, Taiwo.
CITY (4-4-2: Simonsen; Wilkinson, Cort, Sonko, Dickinson; Soares, Whelan, Pugh, Tonge; Pericard, Cresswell. Subs (Not Used): St. Louis-Hamilton, Phillips, McDonald, Moult, Wedderburn.
