Maritzburg United moved three points clear at the top of the promotion/relegation table after their 2-0 victory over Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

The Team of Choice came into this encounter after claiming a 1-0 victory over Royal Eagles in their opening playoff match.

Meanwhile, TTM got their campiagn off to a losing start when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Eagles at the Chatsworth Stadium last week.

The visitors showed their intent early on and broke the deadlock in the opening exchanges of the game when Miguel Timm won a header to put Mohau Mokate in on goal. The striker beat his marker, but failed to hit the target with his effort.

United should have taken the lead after 22 minutes of play when Siphesihle Ndlovu got to the by-line to cut the ball back for Mokate, who saw his shot blocked from inside the area.

Eric Tinkler made his first substitution in the 35th minute when he introduced Brian Mandela to replace Siyanda Xulu

However, the two sides could not be separated as they went into the half-time interval locked at 0-0.

Maritzburg came into the second half and went straight on the attack as Mokate laid the ball off for Deolin Mekoa, who struck the ball promptly, but then saw his shot blocked by the TTM defence at the centre of goal.

Bongokuhle Hlongwane should have handed his side the lead in the 54th minute after latching on to a cross by Timm, but the forward guided his header wide of the target.

Maritzburg eventually took the lead in the 67th minute when Mekoa picked out Judas Moseamedi at the far post before the forward headed the ball away from close range.

The visitors then made it 2-0 when  Hlongwane bagged his first senior goal for United as Moseamedi played his strike partner in, who finished clinically into the near post.

Maritzburg managed to hold on to their lead until the final whistle to secure all three points against TTM to claim their second win in a row.