EASTERN took a giant stride towards winning a third successive First Division title when they thrashed Happy Valley 4-0 with another devastating performance at the Mongkok Stadium last night. It was the champions' third straight victory over Happy Valley in one month after recording wins in the first round of the Marlboro league and the second round of the Viceroy Cup. Eastern went three points clear at the top of the standings thanks to striker Dale Tempest, who claimed a brace of goals including a penalty and one apiece from fiery left-back Ricky Cheng Siu-chung and winger Ross Greer.
Valley were missing Russian players Serguei Markine and Sergei Volkov who were both suspended for one game. Markine and Volkov had intended to sit out last Wednesday's league game against Instant-Dict but that match was postponed because of the inclement weather.
Things did not look good for Valley at all with another Russian, goalkeeper Victor Derbounov, forced to skip the match because of a hamstring injury sustained during Valley's last game two weeks ago against South China.