Leaders Happy Valley clinched the first-phase title while champions Instant-Dict's hopes of retaining their crown were shattered in Ericsson First Division action at Hong Kong Stadium last night. Happy Valley weathered a storm to edge nearest rivals South China 1-0 while first-half goals by Sing Tao's Loh Wai-chi and Leung Chi-kui and a late strike by Lau Chi-yuen sent Instant-Dict to a 3-0 defeat, condemning them to playing in the relegation play-offs. Veteran striker John Moore played the hero and then the villain for Valley, scoring the solitary goal in the match before receiving his marching orders for his second caution. Moore scrambled home a loose ball in the 12th minute but picked up yellow cards in the 21st and 65th minutes as 10-man Happy Valley held on grimly to seal the points and enhance their hopes of winning their first league title in 10 years. Happy Valley only needed a draw to claim the first phase. And with a nine-point lead going into the final game of the first phase, they have now put themselves in a favourable position to take the second phase as well. South China produced a stirring second-half comeback but despite several close calls, Happy Valley held on for victory - their fourth in six games. Happy Valley chairman Lam Tai-fai applauded his players, saying they had done well to clinch full points despite finishing the match with just 10 men. 'It's a very satisfying win for us. The players will share a $200,000 bonus for winning the first phase,' said Lam. 'The only problem for us now is that we will have to find a temporary replacement for [defender Martin] Kuhl as he is likely to be suspended for several matches when the disciplinary committee meets.' Kuhl will help his club find a replacement as he is certain to face the wrath of the disciplinary committee tonight for his red card offence during Happy Valley's stormy match against Instant-Dict earlier this month. South China official Peter Leung said they only had themselves to blame. 'We had our chances but full credit to Happy Valley,' said Leung. Instant needed to win their remaining first-phase fixtures to have any hope of joining three other clubs vying for the title, but everything went wrong for the Dickies, who were reduced to 10 men when skipper Tam Siu-wai was sent off for a second yellow card two minutes into the second half. But Instant-Dict were already against the ropes as Sing Tao surprised the champions with two counter-attacks that produced the goods in the first half. And an 88th-minute goal from Lau well and truly buried the champions while enhancing the Tigers' faint hopes of making the top four. Yugoslav forward Zeljko Gavrilovic set up Sing Tao's opening two goals with inch-perfect crosses as Instant-Dict found themselves up against the wall by the 29th minute. Sing Tao, always dangerous on the break, shot ahead with a goal from former South China striker Loh Wai-chi, who swept the ball home from close range after Gavrilovic delivered a teasing right-wing cross in the 25th minute. Four minutes later, Sing Tao earned a two-goal cushion when Leung Chi-kui rose high to head home Gavrilovic's left-wing cross. TEAMS Happy Valley (4-4-2): 1-Peter Guthrie; 3-Martin Kuhl, 4-Chau Chiu-hung, 15-Wong Wai-tak, 18-Lee Wai-man; 6-Lai Kai-cheuk, 8-Cheung Sai-ho, 11-Kwok Yue-hung, 16-Lo Kai-wah; 10-John Moore, 9-Michael Midwood (7-Kwok Man-tik 56). South China (4-4-2): 1-Mick Leonard; 2-Yau Kin-wai, 3-Cristiano Cordeiro, 14-Poon Man-tik, 16-Shum Kwok-pui; 5-Ailton de Araujo, 10-Ricky Cheng Siu-chung, 11-Lee Kin-wo, 13-Chan Chi-hong; 7-Au Wai-lun (20-Lee Sze-ming 80), 9-Fernando Ornelas. Instant-Dict (4-4-2): 23-Chung Ho-yin; 2-Auyoung Ying-tsz (5-Fung Ka-ki 35), 3-Chan Hon-fai, 7-Ian Baird, 16-Wong Chi-fai; 6-Chan Chi-kwong, 10-Tam Siu-wai, 18-Yeung Hei-chi (14-Hu Jianfeng 71), 25-Glyn Hodges; 9-Ivica Raguz, 21-Tim Bredbury (11-Yiu Hok-man 66). Sing Tao (4-4-2): 18-Leung Cheuk-cheung; 4-Ng Chun-chung, 5-Gus Caesar, 11-Lam Hing-lun, 16-Leung Shing-kit; 7-Loh Wai-chi, 20-Anto Grabo, 23-Sung Lin-yung, 3-Cheung Hiu-chung; 9-Zeljko Gavrilovic (10-Lau Chi-yuen 41), 12-Leung Chi-kui (6-Chu Chi-kwong 71).