Cosmos secures second position

Jomo Cosmos have moved into the top two of the 2017/18 National First Division log after a weekend which saw leaders Highlands Park once again demonstrate their attacking potency.

The round opened on Friday night with Pretoria University closing to within a point of leaders Highlands thanks to a 2-1 away win over Cape Town All Stars at Parow Park, but the Lions of the North restored their four-point buffer by winning 3-1 at Mthatha Bucks on Saturday thanks to goals from Lindokuhle Mbatha, Mothobi Mvala and Peter Shalulile.

Cosmos moved level with AmaTuks on points - and ahead on goal difference - when they won 2-1 at home to Royal Eagles on Sunday. Ezenkosi will be hoping they are closing in on another successful promotion campaign, though there’s a long way left to run in this marathon.

Saturday’s other results saw Super Eagles take a big stride away from the relegation zone with a 1-0 home win over Richards Bay, Stellenbosch and Mbombela United lost ground on the leaders after playing out a goalless stalemate - a result repeated by Black Leopards and Witbank Spurs - while Real Kings picked up the big win of the weekend by thrashing Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 5-1 at the King Zwelithini Stadium.

Sunday’s other result was a 1-1 draw between Ubuntu Cape Town and Uthongathi FC - this helped the former rise off the foot of the table and force Richards Bay down into 16th spot.

The NFD will wrap up for the year with a final round of fixtures before the festive-season break next weekend, December 15-17.

NFD weekend results

Friday 8 December

Cape Town All Stars 1-2 Pretoria University

Saturday 9 December

Super Eagles 1-0 Richards Bay

Stellenbosch 0-0 Mbombela United

Real Kings 5-1 Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila

Black Leopards 0-0 Witbank Spurs

Mthatha Bucks 1-3 Highlands Park

Sunday 10 December

Ubuntu Cape Town 1-1 Uthongathi FC

Jomo Cosmos 2-1 Royal Eagles