Durban - Golden Arrows completed a 4-1 victory over Maritzburg United in their Absa Premiership clash at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday evening.
It was a thoroughly deserved win for the home side, whose goals came from veteran stars Siyabonga Nkosi and Collins Mbesuma, who both netted a brace.
Mor Diouf briefly brought Maritzburg level, but coach Ernst Middendorp will be seething at the defensive lapses that saw his side pegged back just when they looked to be getting back into the game.
The win moves Abafana Bes’thende up to 12th in the table and six points clear of the relegation play-off places, and will be a major confidence boost for the players going into the final third of the season.
Maritzburg remain 11th, now just three points ahead of their provincial rivals and having lost three of their last four Absa Premiership matches, but be looking nervously below them at the relegation scrap.
The home team were ahead inside eight minutes when Nkosi headed home Elrio van Heerden’s cross, a goal that settled an early nerves they might have had.
Maritzburg were briefly level in the game when they scored through giant defender Diouf as headed into the net from Kurt Lentjies’ corner.
But the visitors were on equal terms for under a minute as Mbesuma restored the home side’s advantage with yet another headed effort, this time Nkosi being the architect with a pin-point cross.
That lead was extended six minutes after the break when Mbesuma got his second and Arrows’ third, collecting a pass from Philani Shange and picking his spot to score.
It was comfortable for the home side after that, with Nkosi going close and substitute Thamsanqa Gabuza also narrowly missing out on getting on the scoresheet.
The fourth goal did duly arrive just before the final whistle though as Nkosi capped an excellent performance with his second, providing a neat finish from Gabuza’s square-ball.
It was a thoroughly deserved win for the home side, whose goals came from veteran stars Siyabonga Nkosi and Collins Mbesuma, who both netted a brace.
Mor Diouf briefly brought Maritzburg level, but coach Ernst Middendorp will be seething at the defensive lapses that saw his side pegged back just when they looked to be getting back into the game.
The win moves Abafana Bes’thende up to 12th in the table and six points clear of the relegation play-off places, and will be a major confidence boost for the players going into the final third of the season.
Maritzburg remain 11th, now just three points ahead of their provincial rivals and having lost three of their last four Absa Premiership matches, but be looking nervously below them at the relegation scrap.
The home team were ahead inside eight minutes when Nkosi headed home Elrio van Heerden’s cross, a goal that settled an early nerves they might have had.
Maritzburg were briefly level in the game when they scored through giant defender Diouf as headed into the net from Kurt Lentjies’ corner.
But the visitors were on equal terms for under a minute as Mbesuma restored the home side’s advantage with yet another headed effort, this time Nkosi being the architect with a pin-point cross.
That lead was extended six minutes after the break when Mbesuma got his second and Arrows’ third, collecting a pass from Philani Shange and picking his spot to score.
It was comfortable for the home side after that, with Nkosi going close and substitute Thamsanqa Gabuza also narrowly missing out on getting on the scoresheet.
The fourth goal did duly arrive just before the final whistle though as Nkosi capped an excellent performance with his second, providing a neat finish from Gabuza’s square-ball.