Lawrence Yaku proved the difference as his brace gave Hampton & Richmond the edge over Chelmsford in the Blue Square South play-off semi-final first leg.

The Beavers led with Yaku's finish from a long ball after 44 minutes.

Yaku then repeated it after the break when he latched onto keeper Matt Lovett's long punt to lob a second.

Dave Rainford pulled one back on the hour with a header from Jeff Minton's free-kick but was sent off a minute before Ian Hodges' volley settled it.

Hodges was also sent off late on as both sides ended with 10 men. But Hampton hold the advantage going into Saturday's second leg (2 May, 1300 BST) at The Beveree.

Chelmsford: Gay, Hand, Cousins, Duncan, Ward, Rainford, Berquez, Minton, Hallett, Lawson, Holmes.
Subs Not Used: Dudfield, Knight, Moore, Robinson, Harrison.

Goals: Rainford 59.

Hampton & Richmond: Lovett,Harper, Fernandes, Jeffrey, McAuley, Wells, Stuart Lake, Quarm, Hodges, Yaku, Matthews.
Subs Not Used: Knight, Badu, Brathwaite, Tyson, Ryan Lake.

Goals: Yaku 44, 50, Hodges 83.

Att: 1,708.

Ref: I Crouch (London).

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