Orbit College and Marumo Gallants played to an entertaining 1-1 draw in their Betway Premiership match at Olympia Park in Rustenburg on Saturday evening.
The result sees the Mswenko Boys extend their winless run to five matches, as they remain bottom of the log – having the same points (4) and goal difference (-7) as Chippa United, who now have a game in hand on them.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa have also gone five games without a win, though this third successive 1-1 draw sees them placed ninth on the log on nine points.
Orbit got off to a great start, claiming the lead in the 10th minute via Thuso Moleleki. Siyabulela Mabele played a fine pass to put Monnapule Saleng in behind the defence and he pulled a sharp ball back from the left by-line to find Moleleki at the far post, with the attacking midfielder finishing at close range for 1-0.
The hosts played better football through the rest of the first half and came close to doubling their advantage just before the interval, with Atisang Batsi firing a long-range drive in the 44th minute which was tipped onto the crossbar by Marumo goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
Gallants, a goal down at the break, responded with a triple change at the start of the second stanza, throwing on Siyabonga Nhlapo, Sekela Sithole and Daniel Msendami.
However, the Mswenko Boys continued to look the better team and even found the back of the net just before the hour mark via Moleleki – but the effort was ruled out for a narrow offside.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa soon upped their game and levelled in the 65th minute via Christopher Sithole, whose in-swinging cross from the right flank was missed by both Msendami and goalkeeper Sabelo Nkomo before bouncing home for 1-1.
Just over 10 minutes later Nkomo made a clutch save, coming off his line to deny Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo one-on-one and keep parity for the home side, who found themselves coming under increasing pressure by this stage.
The teams traded half chances through the remainder of the match, ultimately settling for a 1-1 draw and a share of the spoils. Both will return to Premiership action in the coming midweek, Wednesday 24 September, with Gallants away to Kaizer Chiefs and Orbit at home to Polokwane City.
Orbit College (1) 1 (Moleleki 10’)
Marumo Gallants (0) 1 (C. Sithole 65’)
Orbit: Nkomo, Nhlapho, Mabele, Mokgosi, Moleleki (Matsemela 81’), Mkhabela, Saleng, Batsi, Thibedi, Wagaba (Khoto 62’), Jingana
Marumo: Arubi, Ncube, Chabatsane, Sikhosana, Mabotja, Mbhele (Nhlapo 46’), Mphambaniso (Mabuza 67’), Manaka (C. Sithole 46’), Motloung (K. Sithole 79’), Ndlondlo, Clifford (Msendami 46’)