HONG KONG'S top striker, Dale Tempest, led Eastern to their sixth major trophy in two seasons by scoring twice to sink Happy Valley 4-1 in the Esso FA Cup final at the Hong Kong Stadium yesterday. And the 30-year-old marksman then revealed he had pledged his future to the club for a further two seasons. After taking his season's tally to 24 in the four domestic competitions, Tempest said: ''I have agreed terms with Eastern for a two-year contract and as far as I'm concerned that's it. ''Eastern give me the freedom I need at this stage of my career and I don't know if anyone else would be prepared to do that.'' Tempest was referring to his part-time work as a television commentator/presenter and also to his studies for a degree in sports administration at the Hong Kong Sports Institute. Although South China, where Tempest started his Hong Kong career in 1989, are known to be interested in taking him back, Eastern's offer of a two-year contract - unusual in Hong Kong football - seems to have ruled out a move. Having spent two seasons with South China and three with Eastern, another two years in Hong Kong would make Tempest eligible to represent the territory in the qualifying rounds for the 1998 World Cup under a seven-year residency rule. It was business as usual for Tempest and Eastern yesterday, however, as they ended Valley's hopes of winning their first major domestic trophy since the Challenge Shield in 1989-90. Heartened by their victories over South China and Kitchee in the earlier rounds, Valley were confident of taking the FA Cup away from holders Eastern. But they finished the game well beaten, having given their best but discovering it was nowhere near enough against an Eastern side whose determination to stay at the top continues to turn back almost all pretenders. Showing great respect for their opponents, Eastern deployed four players as man-markers to keep Valley in check before turning on the style which has carried them to a second successive treble of league, Challenge Shield and FA Cup. With the match into first-half injury time, most teams would have settled for a 0-0 scoreline at half-time on a warm afternoon. But not Eastern, who came up trumps with the combination of Lee Kin-wo and Tempest, Lee crossing from the right and Tempest gaining half a yard on his marker to deflect the ball skilfully past Valley's over-worked 'keeper, Tommy Maras. Tempest's second goal came just four minutes into the second half and put Eastern well on course to retain the trophy. Again it came from the right, with Ross Greer athletically back-heading Lee's throw-in into the path of Tempest, whose header looped beyond Maras and into the far corner. Valley, having recovered from 2-0 down to beat Kitchee on penalties in the semi-final, rallied again and a long-range effort from left-back Keung Wing-yiu struck the left-hand post of Eastern 'keeper Iain Hesford. With the Eastern defence still trying to re-group Valley centre forward Darren Tilley collected the loose ball and crossed from the right, his strike-partner Ricky Cheng hurled himself at the cross to score with a diving header in the 70th minute. Hong Kong-born Cheng's reward for his goal - and a series of impressive displays since moving to Valley from Costa Rica - is a summer move to Eastern for next season as a possible replacement for midfielder Tam Siu-wai. Tam, who says he is leaving Eastern for Instant-Dict, Rangers or Frankwell, then settled the contest with two late goals. Nine minutes from time, Tam collected a square pass from skipper Lee, played a one-two with Tempest and skipped through the middle before clipping the ball neatly over Maras for a stylish and crucial third goal. There was no let-up from Eastern, however, and they completed the scoring in the 87th minute. Tempest released Greer on the left and the Australian winger's low cross was turned in by Tam for his second of the match. So Valley's dream of a return to their glory days was well and truly buried - and an uncertain policy over the recruitment of overseas players does not offer much hope for the immediate future. Of their foreign players, striker Simon Collins and goalkeeper Tommy Maras have been particularly impressive but they both head for Australia on Tuesday not knowing if Valley want them next season. Collins, playing wide on the left, was well marked by Chan Chi-keung and unable to spark Valley back to life as he had done against Kitchee the previous weekend. Hong Kong Rangers have expressed an interest in signing him next season as Valley seem prepared to clear the decks yet again and venture into the Russian market for overseas players. Eastern (5-4-1): Iain Hesford; Chan Chi-keung, Tim O'Shea, Chiu Chun-ming (Wong Kwok-on, 83), Brian Hayes, Lee Wai-man; Lee Kin-wo (Tong Yuen-sing, 84), Lo Kai-wah, Tam Siu-wai, Ross Greer; Dale Tempest. Happy Valley (4-4-2): Tommy Maras; Hau Yiu-tak, Leung Sui-wing, So Chi-chung, Keung Wing-yiu; Leung Nang-yan (Kwok Yue-hung, 62), Alan Reis, Wei Kexing, Simon Collins; Ricky Cheng, Darren Tilley. Man of the Match: Chan Chi-keung (Eastern) - Great man-marking job on Happy Valley dangerman Simon Collins.