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Bloemfontein - Bloemfontein Celtic stole the derby honours when they beat Free State Stars 1-0 in their Absa premiership match at the Botshabelo Stadium on Wednesday evening.
They snatched the three points from the home side through a 73rd minute winner by Benett Chenene.
Despite the encounter being a Free State derby match, it lacked any real excitement and it was largely poor finishing that was to blame.
Celtic dominated the early possession, but created few chances.
Stars began to claw their way into the game after not seeing much of the ball early, and midfielder Mpho Makola should have scored in the 15th minute.
Makola found himself on the end of a perfectly-timed cross ahead of the Celtic defence, and just the Celtic 'keeper Patrick Tignyemb to beat, but his shot soared wildly into the crowd.
Celtic had a good chance of their own in the 24th minute from a set piece.
The visitors were awarded a free kick near the halfway line and the cross was delivered into the Stars area where defender Erick Mathoho headed the ball powerfully straight at Tignyemb who didn't have to move to make the save.
In what should have been the turning point in the match in the 38th minute, Celtic should have been awarded a penalty when midfielder Thokozani Mshengu was fouled inside the area.
The referee seemed to miss the challenge completely. A corner was awarded instead, much to the protest of the Celtic players.
In the 62nd minute the visitors spurned a great chance as Thabo Nthethe went one-on-one with Stars 'keeper Kennedy Mweene, whose reaction save kept the scores level.
Celtic finally broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute.
Chenene was on the end of a powerful low cross in the Stars area, and his deft touch on the ball gave Mweene no chance as the ball hurtled into the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Celtic.
The home side were given a glimmer of hope when, mysteriously, six minutes of stoppage time were awarded in a half when there were few injuries.
