Marumo Gallants continued their unbeaten start to 2022 after they recorded a narrow 1-0 victory over Stellenbosch at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday evening.
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Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo's 40th-minute penalty settled the DStv Premiership clash as Dan Malesela's side made it four wins on the spin since the turn of the year to move up to 10th place.
Stellies remain unmoved in fifth spot, four points adrift of the top three after suffering their first defeat in six games.
There were early chances at both ends as the two teams looked to build on their good run of form.
The visitors had the first sight at goal on five minutes when Ashley Du Preez latched onto a through-ball from Marc van Heerden and tested King Ndlovu with a shot from inside the box.
Gallants then threatened twice in the space of three minutes as Katlego Otladisa pushed an effort wide of the right post from range before Lehlohonolo Nonyane steered a header past the left post from a ninth-minute corner.
Ndlondlo went closer with a header on 21 minutes that needed to be saved by Sage Stephens after the midfielder got on the end of Sede Dion's cross.
Stellies' next chance saw Juan Ortiz drag a shot wide of the left post from inside the area on 31 minutes after being picked out by Stanley Dimgba.
The hosts were presented with a golden opportunity to open the scoring four minutes before half-time when the referee pointed to the spot after Celimpilo Ngema went down under a challenge from Ortiz.
Ndlondlo slotted the penalty into the bottom-right corner of the net to register his seventh goal of the season.
The Maroons looked for a swift response after the restart, with Junior Mendieta lining up a shot from distance that drew a good save out of Ndlovu in the opening minute.
Stephens was called into action at the other end three minutes later to keep out a long-range strike from Ngema, while Ibraheem Jabaar was also denied by Ndlovu after trying his luck from range on 71 minutes.
Ndlondlo passed up the chance to bag a second goal late on when he sliced a shot wide of the near post from close range in the 88th minute, although it didn't matter as Gallants saw out the remainder of the match.
Marumo Gallants (1) 1 (Ndlondlo 40' PEN)
Stellenbosch 0
Marumo Gallants: K. Ndlovu, M. Mvelase, A. Nkili, L. Nonyane, L. Mabotja, J. Malongoane, C. Ngema (S. Kumalo 74'), M. Timm, N. Ndlondlo, K. Otladisa (S. Sibeko 86'), S. Dion (T. Khiba 46').
Stellenbosch: S. Stephens, D. van Rooyen, Z. Macheke, A. Mcaba (J. Mosemaedi 89'), M. van Heerden (K. Letsoenyo 75'), S. Dimgba (J. Adams 75'), I. Jabaar, S. Mthethwa, A. Du Preez (W. Isaacs 75'), J. Ortiz, J. Mendieta (A. Van Wyk 89').