Maritzburg United eased their relegation worries with a 1-0 win away at Stellenbosch in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday afternoon.
After last weekend’s draw at Bloemfontein Celtic, Leletu Skelem was brought back into the starting XI in place of Phathutshedzo Nange for the Stellies while United recalled Nazeer Allie and Bandile Shandu.
The hosts had the first real chance of the game through Ashley Du Preez in the 18th minute after his header from a cross by Jayden Adams went off the mark.
The visitors soon had a chance of their own in the 33rd minute. Daylon Claasen’s deflected effort from the edge of the box was saved by goalkeeper Sage Stephens.
Having missed one chance earlier, Du Preez had a much better chance to put his side in the lead before the break after he was set up by Adams, but his tame effort was saved by shot-stopper Marcel Engelhardt, as the half finished goalless.
Maritzburg United boss Ernst Middendorp effected two changes at halftime by sending on Daniel Morgan and Fares Hachi for Tlolane and Shandu.
Stephens soon made a big stop to deny Thabiso Kutumela from opening the scoring for the Team of Choice in the 66th minute as the game started opening up in the second half.
Barker looked for fresh ideas with less than 20 minutes to go, by introducing Junior Mendieta in place of Adams while Ally Msengi came on for Marc Van Heerden.
Stellenbosch could have found the winner in the final moments but the hard work in the final few moments was undone by the late penalty they conceded after Mendieta was judged to have handled the ball in the area. Kutumela fired home from the resulting spot kick to hand Maritzburg all three points.
Maritzburg United moved six points clear of the drop zone, just a point and a place behind 12th-placed Stellies.
For their next outing, Maritzburg will take on Swallows in an early fixture on Friday. Stellenbosch are now without a win in their last seven league games and will be aiming to return to winning ways when they take on fellow strugglers in Chippa United on Saturday.