Instant-Dict give themselves boost with charity match win
League champions Instant-Dict restored some lost pride when they defeated the Hong Kong League XI 3-1 to clinch the pre-season Aw Hoe Cup at Mongkok Stadium last night. The Dickies had been beaten in the semi-finals of both the Regional Council Cup and the President's Cup. And they suffered their worst setback when they were thrashed by Shanghai 7-1 in the first leg, first round match of the Asian Club Championship 12 days ago. But they put their disappointment behind them to beat the rest of the league in convincing style. Ross Greer made a triumphant return after leaving Instant-Dict at the end of last season to play in Perth, Australia, by putting his team on the path to victory in the 10th minute of the charity match.
The mercurial left-winger side-footed fellow Australian Paul Foster's cross into the roof of the net. Golden striker Lee Bullen equalised with a powerful header two minutes before the break but Tim Bredbury and Tim O'Shea both got on the scoresheet with second-half goals in the 46th and 66th minutes to land Instant-Dict victory. Bredbury scored 50 seconds into the second half when he beat the off-side trap and shot in off the right-hand post. Skipper and midfielder Tim O'Shea consolidated his team's lead with a 15-yard lob which eluded 'keeper Iain Hesford. Despite the introduction of former Welsh international Glyn Hodges in the second half, the Hong Kong League XI were unable to inject new life into their game.
Instant-Dict president Thomas Tam Wai-tong said his side will now turn their attention to the second leg encounter with Shanghai on Wednesday at Mongkok Stadium. 'We have to see whether Shanghai will field their strongest squad. If they field their reserves, our target will be to beat them by 6-0. If they play their usual squad, we would like at least to score a couple of goals.'TEAMS Instant-Dict: 1-Mick Leonard; 2-Auyoung Wing-tsz; 20-Wong Wai-tak, 5-Chan Ping-on; 3-Chan Hon-fai; 18-Yeung Hei-chi, 4-Tim O'Shea, 13-Yeung Kin-wah, 7-Ross Greer; 9-Paul Foster (10-Tam Siu-wai 42), 21-Tim Bredbury. Hong Kong League XI: 1-Iain Hesford; 3-Chan Chi-keung, 6-Paul Masefield (10-Lauro Camargo 72), 2-Yau Kin-wai, 13-Lee Wai-man; 11-Lee Kin-wo, 5-Aurelio da Silva, 7-Cezar Santanna (20-Leslie Santos 7), 4-Ricky Cheung Siu-chung; 14-Lee Bullen, 8-Dale Tempest (9-Glyn Hodges 45).
