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A 67th minute strike by goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda ensured that Kepekepe collected maximum points in a game in which they played second fiddle for the better part of the match.
Hardbody will feel hard done by, by referee, Mlindele Ndebele who hogged the limelight for the wrong reasons after denying the Gweru side three clear penalties during the match.
It was however, the Harare giants who controlled the proceedings in the first ten minutes and could have surged ahead in the 7th minute when Rahman Kutsanzira set up Clive Kawinga inside the box but the latter hit the side netting with goalkeeper Alexander Useni a beaten man.
Hardbody then took the game to their opponents with an exciting passing game and captain Callisto Maheya thought he had given his side the lead in the 17th minute when he tapped in a Michael Mageja cross but his effort was ruled out for offside.
From then on Watosvorwa piled on the pressure for the entire half but could not find the elusive goal as their strikers wasted numerous scoring chances which came their way.
Hardbody maintained the pressure in the first 10 minutes after the breather but could not find the breakthrough before the green machine clawed back into the game as they started to dictate the pace in the midfield.
Kepekepe finally found the target in the 67th minute when they were awarded a free kick just outside the box after Brian Juru fouled Charles Chiutsa.
Tapiwa Khumbuyani then set up Sibanda from the resultant free kick and unleashed a scorcher which Useni could only help into the nets to send the Caps United faithfuls into a frenzy.
The goal seemed to spur the green machine as they controlled the proceedings in a five-minute spell but Hardbody regained control of the proceedings and virtually camped in the Caps United half in search of an equaliser.
In the 84th minute, Ndebele turned down a third Hardbody penalty appeal when David Sengu handled in the box, which infuriated the home fans as they threw missiles at the assistant referee, forcing a two-minute stoppage.
Tavaka Gumbo, the Hardbody gaffer, blamed the loss on bad officiating by the referee. “It was a good game which we dominated but as you can see the referee denied us three clear penalties,” Gumbo said. His counterpart Sean Connor described the win as a “pleasing result” and said he hoped the team will maintain the form in the next game.
TEAMS
Hardbody: Alexander Useni, Joana Mangiza, Cornilius Simango, Brian Juru, Andrew Chuma, Callisto Maheya, Aleck Marime, Michael Mageja, Nhlanhla Ncube (Clifford Nyoni 84th min), Hillary Gravel, Richard Jongwe (Irvine Mugwamba 76 min).
Caps United: Edmore Sibanda, Charles Chiutsa, Clive Kawinga (Edmore Chafungamoyo 84th min), Rahman Kutsanzira, David Sengu, Nyasha Mukumbi (Clifford Kaisa 46th min), Tawanda Munyanduri, Washington Pakamisa, Tendai Samanja, Douglas Walaza.
Online Reporter