Ebbsfleet will take a one-goal lead into the second leg of their National League play-off semi-final against Hampton & Richmond.

Goals from Dean Rance and Aaron McLean handed them victory in south-west London on Wednesday night but Duncan Culley's reply for the Beavers means the tie is finely-poised heading to Stonebridge Road on Sunday.

It's a repeat scenario of Fleet's play-off a year ago - they won 2-1 at Whitehawk but the return match went to extra-time and penalties, so they'll know nothing is won yet.

Rance was recalled for the visitors as boss Daryl McMahon went for an extra man in midfield. Darren McQueen dropped to the bench, where he was joined by club captain Danny Kedwell - on his way back from a broken arm.

There were a few surprises in the Hampton line-up, with injury doubts Josh Casey, Harold Odametey and former Fleet winger Brendan Kiernan all picked to start.

Ebbsfleet, as they did against Oxford City in their final game of the regular season on Saturday, took the lead inside five minutes.

Rance had a go from 20 yards and a wicked deflection carried the ball past Hampton keeper Sam Howes, who was totally wrong-footed.

Much of the first half was a midfield scrap and Culley was spoken to by referee Chris Pollard after catching Andy Drury.

Hampton were awarded a free-kick when Dave Winfield pulled back Kiernan but Tom Jelley's first effort was well-blocked by Rance and he dragged the second well wide.

The gamble on Odametey backfired when he limped off with less than 20 minutes played.

Fleet keeper Nathan Ashmore dealt confidently with two balls into the penalty area, catching one and punching the other. Ashmore then got right behind a Josh Casey free-kick from the right-hand side of the box.

The visitors doubled their lead from the penalty spot two minutes before half-time. Sam Deering tumbled under the challenge of two Hampton players and McLean smashed the spot-kick to Howes' left.

But just as Ebbsfleet looked to have seized control of the tie, they allowed the Beavers back into it. Christian Jolley's speculative effort from outside the box was spilled by Ashmore and there was Culley to knock the loose ball into an empty net.

Another moment of defensive uncertainty almost cost Fleet at the start of the second half. Jack Connors' suicidal backpass put Ashmore in all sorts of trouble and the keeper did very well to stop Jolley taking advantage.

The visitors then counter-attacked to good effect when Deering made 50 yards down the right and picked out McLean with a superb cross. McLean rose well but couldn't keep his header down.

Kiernan tested Ashmore with a snapshot but the game was developing into a real battle, with Hampton pair Jolley and Culley booked for bad tackles on Rance and Winfield.

Hampton threw men forward in search of a late equaliser but it was Ebbsfleet who came closest to scoring. Deering cut in from the left and curled a superb shot towards the top corner but an even better save from Howes, flying high to his left, denied the little midfielder.

That save kept Hampton in the tie, as did Howes' smart block to keep out Drury's powerful drive in added time.

Hampton & Richmond: Howes, Kamara, Casey, Collier, Murphy, Solomon (Rivic 81mins), Jelley, Odametey (Gallagher 17mins), Culley, Jolley, Kiernan (Hippolyte-Patrick 70mins). Subs not used: Bishop, Hicks.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Cook, Connors, McCoy, Winfield, Clark, Powell, Drury, McLean (Kedwell 90mins), Rance, Deering. Subs not used: Mambo, Miles, Shields, McQueen.

Attendance: 1,689.