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Unus Alladin

HONG KONG champions Eastern stamped their authority on the Marlboro First Division in the same manner which has earned them successive League titles as they scored a dominant 2-0 victory over newly-promoted Frankwell at Mongkok Stadium last night.

  Eastern were under pressure to perform against Frankwell - who had made an encouraging start - but class saw them through as they took their accustomed spot at the top of the standings on seven points after three games - three clear of nearest challengers South China who have played a game less.

  Two second-half goals in a three-minute spell by Ian McParland and defensive midfielder Tim O'Shea closed the door on Frankwell who were simply no match for the champions.

  Frankwell had gone into the match with a reputation after holding last season's runners-up Instant-Dict to a goalless draw which followed an impressive 2-0 win over Rangers.

  But last season's Second Division champions never fired and Eastern quickly put things into perspective as they tamed the newcomers with a classy second half display.

  Frankwell showed promise in the first half as they guarded their goal with some excellent defending by left-back Ng Chun-chung and Englishman Michael Trotter.

  But Frankwell simply lacked any firepower up front as English striker John Muir was marked out of the game by Eastern's efficient defence.

  The relentless pressure from the rampaging Eastern forwards eventually proved too much.

  Eastern skipper Lee Kin-wo and big Australian Ross Greer always remained a threat to Frankwell's defence with Lee playing a crucial role down the right wing.

  The territory's leading striker for the past four seasons, Dale Tempest, had defied doctor's orders by playing with a knee injury and was clearly struggling although strike partner McParland had a fine game.

  Frankwell were holding out well but the champions finally cracked their defence in the 56th minute.

  Lee Kin-wo's cross was headed on by Greer at the left-hand post for the advancing McParland to bundle the ball into the net giving Frankwell goalkeeper Yam Wai-hung no chance.

  No sooner had Frankwell recovered from that setback than they were reeling again as Eastern's second goal arrived three minutes later.

  Lee played creator again, swinging in a corner which was first headed out by Frankwell defender Ng Chun-chung. Greer got up to win the next header and the hard-working O'Shea followed up by winning the ball in the air to guide his header past Yam.

  Eastern then made an extraordinary move when they substituted McParland, who had earlier been booked for dissent, for Paul Nixon, who was playing his first game for Eastern in nearly 11 months.

   Eastern (4-4-2): Iain Hesford; Chan Chi Keung, Chiu Chun-ming, Keung Heung-fai, Lee Wai-wo; Lee Kin-wo, Lo Kai-wah, Tim O'Shea, Ross Greer; Dale Tempest, Ian McParland (Paul Nixon 69).

 Frankwell (4-4-2): Yam Wai-hung; Wan Ho-yin, Ng Chun-chung, Michael Trotter, Tang Kwok-yan (Ng Kam-hung 74); Alekxandr Stradin, Wong Kwok-yan, Romans Sidorovs, Chan Hon-fai (Ling Hon-chung 47); Oleg Aleksetenko, John Muir  Man of the Match: Tim O'Shea (Eastern) was his usual hard-working self and showed character in scoring Eastern's second goal.

      But Nixon, who has almost recovered from a serious knee injury, clearly lacked match fitness as Eastern comfortably held on to their two-goal lead for the points.



Three-minute blitz sees Eastern home