Richards Bay ease early relegation fears with KZN Derby win

Richards Bay snapped a eight-match winless run in the Betway Premiership when they claimed a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale on Saturday afternoon.

The win elevated the Natal Rich Boys to the 15th spot in the league standings having also snapped a five-match losing run. Richards Bay will be hoping to make it two wins in a row when they host Mamelodi Sundowns on 28 December.

Abafana Bes'thende, on the other hand, saw their three-match unbeaten run in the league come to an end and they remain sixth in the table. Arrows will be looking to return to winning ways when they host Polokwane City on 28 December.

The two teams struggled to create clear-cut chances in the opening 30 minutes of the match with Arrows goalkeeper Edward Maova and his counterpart Salim Magoola not seriously tested.

Yanela Mbuthuma burst into life after the hour-mark with the 22-year-old Richards Bay striker's effort being blocked in the 32nd minute before failing to keep his side on target four minutes later. The score was 0-0 at halftime.

The Natal Rich Boys continued to search for the opening goal after the restart and they got in the 75th minute. Lindokuhle Zikhali, 19, scored his first goal as a professional footballer to hand Richards Bay a 1-0 lead.

Abafana Bes'thende looked to level matters, but the Natal Rich Boys looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Ntlonelo Bomelo had a chance to double the lead in the stoppage time, but Maova produced a good save and ultimately, Richards Bay won 1-0.

Arrows 0

Richards 1 (Zikhali 75')

ARROWS: Maova, Phillips, Shitolo, Mantshiyane, Dube (Dlamini 66'), Zwane (Sibiya 46'), Van Rooi (Lukhele 79'), Theron (Libamba 79'), Ndwandwe, Mthanti (Mchunu 66'), Moon.

RICHARDS: Magoola, Dube, Ndaba, Allan, Mcineka, Mthethwa, Gumede (Conco 74'), Zikhali (Mabua 84'), Mbuthuma (Bomelo 84'), Kutumela (Mthembu 66'), Ntsundwana (Mabuya 74').