Sekhukhune United returned to DStv Premiership action with a bang in the New Year after they dispatched Richards Bay 3-1 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
Lehlohonolo Seema's side picked up their first win in three games to move up to 11th position, just two points outside the top eight, with a third defeat in four outings leaving the Natal Rich Boyz second from bottom on 13 points, five adrift of safety.
FULL TIME..‼️
— Sekhukhune United F.C. (@SekhukhuneFc) February 17, 2024
⏰ 9⃣0⃣+3⃣
3⃣ Goals✅
3⃣ Points✅
Well done Lads👏👏👏
Sekhukhune United 3⃣-1⃣ @RichardsBayFC_#Adibahlabe #DstvPrem pic.twitter.com/uzg4XNYHQ6
The hosts controlled proceedings in Polokwane, although Renaldo Leaner was called into action early on to keep out a shot from Justice Figuareido after just four minutes.
They were celebrating the lead eight minutes later, however, when Linda Mntambo beat Salim Magoola with a clinical strike to score on his first appearance of the season.
Babina Noko pinned the visitors back in their own half after breaking the deadlock and Michael Sarpong went close to a second goal as he forced his way into the 18-yard area before lashing an effort wide of the target in the 34th minute.
The Limpopo outfit took a deserved one-goal lead into the break and threatened to double their advantage five minutes after the restart when Elias Mokwana found a pocket of space to blast a shot over the crossbar.
But the Natal Rich Boyz hit back against the run of play on 64 minutes with an equaliser from Moses Mthembu, only for them to concede a penalty three minutes later which was coolly converted by substitute Chibuike Ohizu, who had been introduced off the bench at the start of the second half.
Sekhukhune didn't rest on their laurels though, as they pushed for a third goal and their efforts were rewarded in the 93rd minute when Thamsanqa Masiya fired home to register his first goal of the campaign.
Babina Noko are next in action on Wednesday, 28 February when they travel to Hammarsdale to take on Golden Arrows at the Mpumalanga Stadium, while the Natal Rich Boyz host Royal AM in a local derby at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday, 3 March.
Sekhukhune United (1) 3 (Mntambo 12', Ohizu 67' PEN, Masiya 90+3')
Richards Bay (0) 1 (Mthembu 64')
Sekhukhune United: R. Leaner, K. Mkhabela, D. Cardoso, T. Tshibwabwa, A. Tiwani (S. Ntiya-Ntiya 81'), V. Mncube (T. Masiya 71'), K. Mokotjo, S. Mkhize, L. Mntambo (J. Webber 65'), M. Sarpong (C. Ohizu 46'), E. Mokwana (M. Dias 81').
Richards Bay: S. Magoola, L. Mabuya, S. Mcineka, T. Dube, N. Ndaba, S. Barns, B. Komane, M. Mthembu (L. Mhlongo 86'), T. Gumede, J. Figuareido (Y. Mbuthuma 62'), S. Ntsundwana.