Sekhukhune United moved back into the top eight in the DStv Premiership with a narrow 1-0 win over Royal AM on Wednesday evening.
An array of returnees from Babina Noko saw goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare, Nyiko Mobbie, Daniel Cardoso, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Chibuike Ohizu and captain Linda Mntambo back in the side.
Ohizu, who from time to time has been the go-to-guy for Babina Noko, very nearly came through again from a combination with Vusimuzi Mncube but slammed wide.
Mntambo came to the fore his charges beyond ten minutes when he spotted Maloisane Mokhele in the area with a clever assist, with the latter firing past Hugo Nyame.
Royal AM showed a bit of fight a little later and even had a goal disallowed for offside before clever defending on the ball and in any sort of space by Siphesihle Mkhize maintained them.
At the other end, Ohizu was released through on goal once more from a pass by Mntambo but he couldn’t get the better of their opposite number Hugo Nyame.
John Maduka’s men went close to the equaliser shortly inside the second half with a shot from Sphiwe Cele, but Sangare stopped him in his tracks.
Sekhukhune provided the maiden alteration of the clash a little into the resumption when captain Mntambo vacated to have Jamie Webber step in on the field.
The boys from the KwaZulu-Natal province remained confident of an equaliser later and draw yet another save from Sangare through a free-kick in a decent position.
However, Babina Noko maintained calm heads well into the latter minutes of the clash thus walked away with all the points on offer.
Confirmed line-ups:
Sekhukhune United: Sangare, Mobbie, Tiwani, Cardoso, Tshibwabwa, Mokotjo, Mokhele, Mntambo, Ohizu, Mkhize, Mncube
Subs: Mtsweni, Mkhabela, Ntiya-Ntiya, Mtshali, Mohamme, Webber, Mosadi, Masiya, Sarpong
Royal AM: Nyame, Matlaba, Jiyane, Masuku, Mahlasela, Mashiane, Msomi, Sikakane, Shezi, Cele, Sera
Subs: Mpoto, Kobedi, Gamildien, Macuphu, Ndlovu, Sithole, George, Lingwati, Mkhize
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