Swallows claim first win of the year

A second-half goal from Vuyisile Wana saw Moroka Swallows defeat Golden Arrows at the Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday evening and pick up their first Absa Premiership win of 2014.

Swallows created a couple of early shooting chances for Siyabonga Nomvethe and Dikgang Mabalane, though neither was able to trouble veteran goalkeeper Arthur Bartman.

Arrows’ first serious effort at goal arrived just after the midway point of the first half, with striker Bongi Ntuli forcing Greg Etafia into a relatively comfortable save.

Both ‘keepers were relatively busy in the first half, though they more occupied with catching crosses and errant long balls rather than shots, as both teams struggled to get going in an attacking sense.

The Birds finally broke the deadlock just before the hour mark. Midfielder Lefa Tsutsulupa provided a cross into the penalty area from a free kick and Vuyisile Wana found the back of the net with a header.

Despite replacing two of their backline after going ahead (Ashraf Hendricks and Larry Cohen replaced Gilbert Mapemba and Luvhengo Mungomeni respectively), the Soweto side were able to hold out for the victory and three much-needed points.

Moroka Swallows (0) 1 (Wana 59’)

Golden Arrows 0

Swallows: Etafia, Mapemba (Hendricks 82’), Isaacs, Mungomeni (Cohen 71’), Mokgothu, Mabalane, Nergadze, Tsutsulupa, Mbekile, Wana (Obada 69’), Nomvethe

Arrows: Bartman, Ntombayithethi, Zwane, Mngwengwe, Tom, Nene, Khuboni, Hotto, Bester (Mbewe 68’), Katongo, Ntuli (Twala 81’)

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