South China returned to the top of the table after beating Golden 3-1 in their Hong Kong First Division second-phase match yesterday.
In the earlier game of the double-header, watched by 3,089 people at Siu Sai Wan Stadium, Eastern - who will be relegated next season - lost 3-1 to Happy Valley.
Leaders South China are currently one point ahead of first-phase champions Instant-Dict and both have two more games to play.
Valley, who are second from the bottom in the aggregate standings, are still in the relegation zone, one point behind fifth-placed Uhlsport-Rangers.
South China winger Ricky Cheng Siu-chung found the target two minutes after a goalless first-half when he scored from an Au Wai-lun cross. But their celebrations were cut short when Bosnian forward Anto Grabo levelled for Golden in the 61st minute with a low-shot - seven minutes after he came on to substitute midfielder Chiu Chung-man.
Golden had a series of chances after their goal but they failed to convert on each occasion.