Swallows FC secured a hard-earned 1-0 win over hosts Royal AM in a DStv Premiership match played at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Kagiso Malinga scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot to take the Birds up to ninth place on the log, while Thwihli Thwahla drop to 11th spot.
Neither side faces any threat of relegation when the season ends next weekend, while both can still secure a top-eight finish.
Swallows started strongly but Royal gradually took control of the game and were inches away from claiming the lead on the quarter hour mark, as Sedwyn George rattled the frame of the goal with a shot direct from a free kick.
Yet Swallows turned the momentum and were awarded a penalty midway through the first half for a clumsy foul from Jabulani Ncobeni.
Kagiso Malinga took on the spot kick and scored from 12 yards (though goalkeeper Mondli Mpoto almost kept the effort out) to put the Birds 1-0 up in the 27th minute.
Royal upped their game in search of an equaliser, but found the Swallows defence in unforgiving mood, and the visitors nearly claimed a second goal 10 minutes before the break when Malinga’s shot was turned onto the post by Mpoto, with Mthokozis Shwabule unable to capitalise on the rebound.
The second half opened with Thwihli Thwahla piling on the pressure in attack, and they went for even more striking power by replacing veteran defender Happy Jele with Mfundo Thikazi.
Swallows almost took advantage of their hosts’ weakened defence on the hour mark when Lindokuhle Mtshali went one-on-one with Mpoto, but the ‘keeper came out on top to keep his side in the game.
Royal continued to push for an equaliser and shuffled their attack with the introductions of Levy Mashiane, Mxolisi Machupu and Sibusiso Magaqa with just under 10 minutes of regulation time to play, but the Birds were able to hold firm and secure all three points.
The teams will wrap up their DStv Premiership campaigns next Saturday, 20 May, with Royal visiting Richards Bay and Swallows hosting Marumo Gallants.
Royal AM 0
Swallows FC (1) 1 (Malinga 27’ pen)
Royal: Mpoto, Dube (Mashiane 83’), Jele (Thikazi 56’), Manganyi, Msomi, Ncobeni, Mogaila, Sikakane, Masuku, Sera (Magaqa 83’), George (Machupu 83’)
Swallows: Akpeyi, Damons, Sibiya, Shwabule, Mthethwa, Sam, Mngonyama, Lukhubeni, Patjie (Matsheke 65’), Mtshali, Malinga (Rusike 76’)