Instant stretch super run
INSTANT-DICT warmed up for their Viceroy Cup campaign by extending their unbeaten run in the Hongkong First Division to eight games with a 1-0 victory over Ernest Borel at Mongkok Stadium last night.
The three points, courtesy of a 25-yard screamer from right-winger Chan Chi-kwong two minutes into the second half, lifted Instant above Michelotti into second place in the table.
They now have 27 points from 13 games, seven behind Eastern, who have played a game less.
Eastern were the last side to beat Instant way back on December 12. After that defeat, Instant drew their next three matches before reeling off five successive victories, this latest one avenging a surprise 2-1 league defeat by Borel in October.
Instant's next match is in the Viceroy Cup, a quarter-final tie with Michelotti on March 23. The winners play Sing Tao or South China in the semi-finals, at Hongkong Stadium on March 30.
After last night's game, the Instant management announced they had signed Shanghai-born Chinese international Townsend Qin on a 11/2-season contract after the player had been released by North American club the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks.
If things are going well for Instant, the same cannot be said for Borel, whose team is in disarray as they prepare for their defence of the Viceroy Cup in a quarter-final tie against Kui Tan next Tuesday.
Instant's extra drive was in evidence for the goal, when left-winger Adrian Thorpe battled hard to retain possession before laying the ball back for Chan to smash past Tim Dalton in the Borel goal.
