Unbeaten Stellenbosch continued their impressive start to the DStv Premiership season after recording a 1-0 win over winless Marumo Gallants to go second on Wednesday afternoon.
The Stellies made two changes, Marc van Heerden and Ashley Du Preez were recalled while Gallants brought back Katlego Otladisa and handed Nduduzi Nhlapo his debut.
The hosts were enterprising in the early stages and Judas Moseamedi had a good opportunity in the opening ten minutes but his strike was expertly saved by shot-stopper Washington Arubi.
Steve Barker’s men were on rampage on the wings and the pressure soon paid off Du Preez broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark with a close-range strike from Junior Mendieta’s shot that came off the post.
Meanwhile, as Bahlabane Ba Ntwa were finding it difficult to break down Stellenbosch, Stanley Dimgba almost doubled the home side’s but his looping strike from outside the box sailed narrowly wide.
After the break, Monde Mphambaniso had a big chance to level for the visitors butt his free header was carefully gathered by goalkeeper Sage Stephens.
Stellies stayed compact and defended as a unit, with Gallants applying late pressure in search of the equalizer, Maleka gave Siphelele Ntshangase his debut in the last 22 minutes in place of Celimpilo Ngema in midfield.
The hosts added more bodies to the defence with the introduction of Mogamad De Goede in place of attacker Mendieta, and that was enough to get the job done and extend their unbeaten run.