Golden Arrows added to Black Leopards' relegation woes with a 3-1 win in the DStv Premiership on Sunday afternoon.
Leopards were without Roderick Kabwe and Samuel Banda through suspension, but Arrows recalled Seth Parusnath, Nduduzo Sibiya and Velemseni Ndwandwe from the goalless draw against Baroka FC.
The host were off to a dream start inside the opening four minutes after Lifa Hlongwane got on the end of a quick counter-attack to find the back of the net.
Arrows came to the party soon after going behind as a cross towards the near post of the area by Mthokozisi Dube picked out Michael Gumede, but goalkeeper King Ndlovu saved his header.
Their continued persistence paid off two minutes from the half-hour mark through a clinical finish in the area by Knox Mutizwa after he ran onto a through ball from Ndwandwe.
Abafana Besthende were then denied the lead at the break moments later when Mutizwa struck the crossbar from a nicely worked tee-up by Sibiya.
The start of the second half saw three changes from Leopards in Tiklas Thutlwa, Tebogo Makobela and Sibusiso Khumalo.
Arrows, who lost the reverse fixture two weeks ago, looked for a bright spell into the second stanza but Lidoda Duvha refused to open up but keep them at bay.
It became a closely knit affair heading to the remaining passages of the match, with limited albeit half-hearted openings for the two.
This was until Parusnath made a run into the middle of the area 12 minutes before time to finish off a well-worked layoff from Siboniso Conco.
Leopards went searching for the equaliser, but Arrows made it three at the death through a smart finish from close-range by Ndwandwe.
Confirmed line-ups:
Arrows: Mlungwana,Sibisi, Lunga, Zuke, M.Dube, Parusnath, Sibiya, Mtshali, Ndwandwe, M. Gumede, Mutizwa.
Subs: N.Gumede, L.Dube, Mathiane, Nkombelo, Conco, Sabelo.
Leopards: Ndlovu, Matsimbi, Mashoene, Masia, Gyimah, Abubakar, Mthethwa, Ramagalela, Anas, Hlongwane, Khutlang.
Subs: Mendes, Makobela, Khumalo, Mokoena, Thutlwa, Carrim, Makgetlwa, T. Ndlovu, Maluleke.