Valley hold off Caroliners to clinch first-phase honours

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.