Hat-trick to Morgan as Kui Tan rout Forces

ONLY 38 paying customers braved a cold night at Shamshuipo to watch Kui Tan beat British Forces 7-0 in a bottom-of-the-table battle last night.

Kui Tan, desperately needing victory to pull clear of the First Division relegation zone, achieved it in style to inflict on Forces their heaviest league defeat of the season.

Striker Tristram Morgan, playing his second match for Kui Tan, led the rout with a hat-trick. There were two for right winger Lau Dic-lun, the man of the match, and one apiece for Stuart McCall and Darren Bloodworth.

Northampton-born Morgan was signed in December after spending the previous four seasons playing in Perth.

He said later: ''I'm very happy to get a hat-trick in my second game and this win will give us a bit of breathing space over Happy Valley.'' Kui Tan were without their leading scorer, Chan Hoi-yin, who is expected to be out for six weeks with a back injury.

Kui Tan are still hoping to agree terms with either Mark Falco, the former Spurs and Queen's Park Rangers striker, or Graham Cooper, a former teammate of Dale Tempest at Huddersfield Town, in the next few days.

Meanwhile, Kitchee's in-form striker John Clare will need an operation on a knee ligament injury and could be sidelined for a month.