Stellenbosch stunned as Ajax close gap

Round 17 of the 2018-19 National First Division season saw leaders Stellenbosch suffer their first league defeat since September, as they succumbed 2-0 at home to Richards Bay on Friday night.

Steve Barker’s side were beaten at the Idas Valley Sports Ground by the Natal Rich Boyz, allowing Ajax Cape Town and Mbombela United to make up ground in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier Soccer League.

The Urban Warriors won 2-0 at home to Jomo Cosmos on Friday night to move to within four points of Stellies, and they remained in second place after Mbombela could only draw 0-0 at home to Cape Umoya United at the Kanyamazane Stadium on Sunday, leaving them five adrift of the top.

Saturday’s results saw Ubuntu Cape Town and Witbank Spurs boost their survival hopes with a 2-1 home win over TS Galaxy and 1-0 triumph away to Maccabi FC respectively, while Real Kings v Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and Royal Eagles v TS Sporting both ended in goalless stalemates.

Sunday’s other game saw Pretoria University halt their slide toward the danger zone with a 1-0 win at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium over Uthongathi. AmaTuks are up to 11th place and five points clear of the relegation positions.

The NFD will continue with a full set of fixtures next weekend, 18-20 January.

RESULTS

Friday 11 January

Ajax Cape Town 2-0 Jomo Cosmos
Stellenbosch 0-2 Richards Bay

Saturday 12 January

Ubuntu Cape Town 2-1 TS Galaxy
Real Kings 0-0 Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila
Maccabi FC 0-1 Witbank Spurs
Royal Eagles 0-0 TS Sporting

Sunday 13 January

Mbombela United 0-0 Cape Umoya United
Uthongathi 0-1 Pretoria University