Absa Premiership

 

Result: Platinum Stars 1-0 Moroka Swallows

 

Date: 08 March 2015

 

Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium

 

Platinum Stars claimed a slender 1-0 win over struggling Moroka Swallows at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

 

Dikwena should have opened the scoring in the 15th minute but Eleazar Rodgers' header from the edge of the area sailed inches wide, after the Swallows goalkeeper, Obren Cuckovic , failed to collect the in-coming cross.

 

After a barren spell in the game, Stars nearly broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute, as Vuyo Mere's effort from close range sailed just over the crossbar.

 

Philani Cele had Swallows' first effort at goal in the 35th minute, as he rifled an effort into the side-netting from 25-yards out.

 

Lerato Chabangu should have broken the deadlock three minutes later, the midfielder got on the end of Siyabonga Nomvethe's knockdown but ended up blasting over from close range.

 

However, Dikwena took the lead just before the halftime break, as some good work from Tintswalo Tshabalala down the left ended up with Rudi Isaacs putting the ball into his own net.

 

The second half proved to be poor from both sides, most notably Swallows, who needed to find themselves an equaliser.

 

Fani Madida brought on the likes of Felix Obada and Vuyisile Wana with the hope of bagging an all important equaliser.

 

However, Swallows failed to get the equaliser in the closing stages and now remain winless in 2015, while Dikwena picked up their first league win of the year.

 

Here's how they lined up:

 

Platinum Stars: Dambe, Mere, Masenamela, Tshikovhi, Sithole, Madubanya, Nyanda, Mathe, Rodgers, Tshabalala, Mabena

 

Moroka Swallows:  Cuckovic; Mungomeni, Isaacs, Cohen, Lekgothoane; Baloyi, Yende, Cele; Mabalane, Chabangu Nomvethe