Polokwane stalemate does little to ease Richards Bay's fears

Richards Bay remain in danger of having to navigate the promotion/relegation playoffs after they drew 0-0 with Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday.

Vusumuzi Vilakazi's side closed the gap to Royal AM and Moroka Swallows to five points in 15th place, but they need maximum points from their last three games to stand a chance of staying up.

Rise And Shine are kept out of the top eight on goal difference after going level with Kaizer Chiefs (8th) on 34 points in ninth position.

Phuti Mohafe's side were looking to build on their first win in five games, having beaten basement boys Cape Town Spurs 2-1 in the Mother City on April 30.

Richards Bay kept their survival hopes alive with a 2-1 home success against AmaZulu that same day which was their third win in four matches.

Mohafe kept faith with the team that started against the Urban Warriors, while Vilakazi made two changes, with Thulani Gumede coming in for the suspended Sanele Barns and Simphiwe Mcineka taking the place of Austin Dube.

The two teams largely cancelled each other out in the first half and they went into the halftime break still deadlocked at 0-0.

Vilakazi went to his bench early in a bid to push for the win, bringing on Yamela Mbuthuma for the ineffectual Khuda Muyaba at the start of the second half and he went even more attacking after introducing Justice Figuareido for Moses Mthembu on 65 minutes.

Nyakala Raphadu and Sibusiso Tshabalala had come on for the hosts a couple of minutes earlier, but none of the substitutions had the desired effect as both teams struggled to create enough clear-cut chances and they had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Polokwane City 0

Richards Bay 0

Polokwane City: L. Mathebula, T. Matuludi, B. Nikani, L. Nkaki, T. Nkwe, N. Maphangule (N. Raphadu 62'), M. Kambala, M. Ramabu, C. Alexander, O. Appollis (S. Goovadia 76'), H. Chauke (S. Tshabalala 63').

Richards Bay: S. Magoola, L. Mabuya, S. Mthethwa, S. Mcineka, N. Ndaba, M. Mthembu (J. Figuareido 65'), R. Malepe, L. Mhlongo, T. Gumede (N. Makhubela 74'), K. Muyaba (Y. Mbuthuma 46'), S. Ntsundwana (K. Makateng 86').