Accra Hearts of Oak returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-1 win over Berekum Chelsea on Friday.

Kwabena Boateng's 81st minute effort wrapped up a comfortable win for the Phobians, after Emmanuel Sarpong's goal threatened to complicate affairs.

Hearts raced into a two-goal lead after Ramzay Yussif and Hamza Issah scored either side of half-time.

However, the Phobians were pegged back when Emmanuel Sarpong headed home from a seemingly harmless cross after sixty-two minutes.

Hearts coach Aboubakar Ouattara made two changes to the team that lost to Asante Kotoko, for the Friday night encounter.

Young midfielder Ramzay Yussif started in place of Salim Adams, while Ransford Mensah replaced Emmanuel Amankwaah.

Last season's topscorer, Stephen Amankona, who has already scored five times this season, was not available for the visitors.

Amankona is away on national team duty with the home based Black Stars, who face their Nigerian counterparts on Sunday.

Chelsea replaced the winger with Zakaria Fuseini, in a move that suggested the Blues would favour defensive solidity over expansiveness.

Hearts started the match well and after just six minutes, created the first meaningful attack but Ramzy Yussif's effort flew past the Chelsea post.

The first chance of the game fell to Emmanuel Sarpong, just three minutes later but he failed to pull the trigger on time, allowing Sharif Shuaib to make the save.

Next, it was Hearts of Oak's chance to miss, this time, from a free kick.Kelvin Osei Asibey's cross was knocked down by Kwabena Boateng but Hamza Issah's shot flew wide.

The ping ball nature of the game continued as Chelsea went close again but Shuaib stretched to his elastic limit to deny Mezack Afriyie.

Hearts took the lead when Ramzay Yussif tapped in Martin Karikari's cut back.

The goal was a product of some quick inter-positional exchanges which ended with Karikari in space, who then found Ramzay on the goal line.

Friday's goal was the first of the season for the midfielder, who has been in and out of the team.

From then on, both teams regrouped as the final ten minutes of the first half played out without any major incident.

Back from recess, Hearts started strongly and went close on two occassions.

First, Martin Karikari's curled effort was parried by Chelsea keeper, Gregory Obeng Sekyere.

Moments later, there was no denying the Phobians as Hamza Issah calmly slotted past Obeng Sekyere for the second goal.

Chelsea had pushed up after Obeng Sekyere's save from Karikari's effort, but were caught out cold as Hussein Mohammed dispossessed Edwin Kuffour Asamoah.

Hussein Mohammed wasted no time and found Hamza, who was bearing down on goal.

Friday's goal; Hamza's fourth in thirteen games this season, should lift his spirits after he was dropped from the final Black Galaxies squad for Sunday's CHAN qualifier against Nigeria.

Chelsea were jolted into action by the goal and pushed forward ostensibly to reduce the deficit.

Before long, they were rewarded when Emmanuel Sarpong's header from a free kick, sneaked past Shuaib for their first goal.

Hearts coach Aboubakar Ouattara responded to the set back by taking off Hussein Mohammed and Martin Karikari.The Ivorian brought on Mawuli Wayo and Saani Mohammed respectively.

While the substitution did little to restore their control of the game, Hearts eventually wrapped up the game through Kwabena Boateng.

The forward scored against the run of play, when he finished off Hamza Issah's pass with ten minutes remaining.

Boateng's goal is only his second of the campaign, after ten league appearances.

Hearts have temporarily moved to fifth place with twenty-two points, just two behind league leaders, Heart of Lions.

Meanwhile, Berekum Chelsea have slipped to ninety position as they remain on eighteen points.