Chelmsford have it all to do

CHELMSFORD City have it all to do in the second leg of their Blue Square South play-off semi-final on Saturday after Hampton departed Melbourne with an important victory to leave them in the driving seat for a place in the final after a fiery encounter.

CHELMSFORD City have it all to do in the second leg of their Blue Square South play-off semi-final on Saturday after Hampton departed Melbourne with an important victory to leave them in the driving seat for a place in the final after a fiery encounter.

At the end of a tight first half, second-placed Hampton moved in front when a long ball over the top caught the home defence cold and Lawrence Yaku raced through to touch wide of goalkeeper Danny Gay and into the net on 45 minutes.

That advantage was doubled just seven minutes beyond the interval, again through Yaku. With only the keeper to beat once more, he lifted the ball over Gay and saw it bounce over the line.

Chelmsford were given hope in the 59th minute as they reduced the arrears, a right-wing delivery finding the head of Dave Rainford who guided it into the bottom corner. However, the Beavers restored their two-goal cushion six minutes from time, Ian Hodges striking into the bottom corner from an acute angle.

There was still time for some late drama, however, as City's Rainford had moments earlier been dismissed for an off-the-ball incident. In addition, another goal-scorer, Hampton's Hodges, received his own red card in injury time for a ruthless foul.