Orlando Pirates made it seven wins in a row with a 1-0 triumph over Richards Bay FC in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday night.
Patrick Maswanganyi stepped back in for Kabelo Dlamini on the back of the Buccaneer' 2-0 win over TS Galaxy a week ago, as Yanela Mbuthuma and Laneglihle Mhlongo missed out on the other side due to suspension.
After a purposed opening, a lot of promise was shown by either team through a number of forward passes, runs and all-round penetration to unlocking one another.
Thalente Mbatha, who banged a cracker against Galaxy, looked for something similar in the midway quarter but he saw his strike take a deflection into touch and for a corner-kick.
Pirates, nonetheless, waited just a few moments to get going when Evidence Makgopa got his fourth league goal by slotting into an empty net after goalkeeper Ian Otieno failed to hold on to a shot from Thabiso Monyane.
The Natal Rich Boys urgently pushed for a response through relentless attacks from largely all areas, but the Buccaneers remained steadfast.
The table-toppers set the second period of the mark and brought on Kabelo Dlamini in the place of midfield strong-man Makhehleni Makhaula, who had already picked up a yellow card,
Richards Bay continued to chase shadows minutes from the break as Otieno had to go down to parry a curling effort from break-out star Mohau Nkota.
Otieno was called to action again inside the final stages and produced a smart save from a looping header by Nkosinathi Sibisi following a corner.
The Natal Rich Boys very nearly pulled level ahead of full-time with a chipped effort by Lindokuhle Zikhali, who had spotted Sipho Chaine off his line but his effort sailed wide as the Buccaneers held on for the seventh consecutive win in a row.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Sesane, Sibisi, Monyane, Hotto, Mbatha, Makhaula, Maswanganyi, Nkota, Mofokeng, Makgopa
Subs: Buthelezi, Maela, Mako, Rasebotja, Kimvuidi, Saleng, Dlamini, Gilberto, Mabasa
Richards Bay: Otieno, Gcaba, Ndaba, Mabua, Mcineka, Mthethwa, Mabuya, Mthembu, Bomelo, Sithebe, Ntsundwana
Subs: Magoola, Allan, Zikhali, S. Dube, Figareido, Ndelu, Gumede, Buthelezi, Sibanyoni