adminFORMER Mbabane Swallows Zimbabwe-born defender, Talent Maphosa was due to make his debut for Red Lions after moves to Mbabane Highlanders and Vovovo failed to materialise before last Fridaya��s transfer window deadline.
Maphosa who has had to endure a fall down the pecking order since his aborted trip to return home finally joined Lions, home to goalkeeper Knowledge Jim but could not make it in the 1-2 defeat to Tambuti FC.
Red Lions were due to play Malanti Chiefs at Somhlolo National Stadium on Thursday night in the seven game mid-week schedule whose first tie was washed away on Tuesday night when the Mbabane Highlanders v Tambuti FC tie had to be called off.
In other matches, Sabelo Sawa Gamedzea��s brace sank Green Mamba as Saul Chaminukaa��s Matsapha United bounced from the two successive 1-1 draws against Red Lions and Manzini Sundowns, with 2-1 home win over Green Mamba at Mavuso Sports Centre on Wednesday night.
It would seem the football gods have forsaken the prison warders who controlled the game,A� dominating possession but as they say goals make all the difference, handing the league newcomers all three points on offer.
In what could be an improvement from theA� slow starts that characterised their last two draws, Matsapha United started off strong and deserving, Gamedze found himself lurking in the box squeezing through the opener past Siyabonga Simelane after only 16 minutes.
Conceding the goal seemed to bring Mamba out of their shells stealing away control of the game and had it not been for the unyielding backline marshalled by Jimoh Moses and Sifiso Maseko, the wanders could have broken levels or even stolen the lead.
And so to the breather the home held through the very slender lead.
After the breather Harries Madze Bulunga seemed to have charged his lads as they came out of the pep talk firing from all cylinders searching for the equaliser but there was to be one change that took Mamba a gear up.
Barely two minutes after replacing John Neguyuni, Banele Mdluli levelled the affairs in the 65th minute with a deceiving header that stole away Khanyakwezwe Shabalalaa��s attention as it sailed into the far right corner.
The goal left Matsapha United chasing the second balls, living dangerously each time the warders poured forward.
In one now very rare venture forward in the 81st minute, Matsapha United won a penalty which Gamedze stepped forward to coolly convert stealing the winning points for the second win that moved them to eight points.
Matsapha United coach, Saul Chaminuka conceded they had won a touch match.
a�?I must admit Green Mamba were the better side. Nonetheless we are happy to win the match which gives us all the confidence,a�? said Chaminuka.
His Mambaa��s counterpart, Bulunga lamented the soft opener and the penalty for the woes.
a�?I wonder how we lost a game we controlled. We conceded a very soft goal to give them the lead. Just when we thought we had the game in our hands we gave away the penalty. Ita��s a bad spell which we have to end,a�? said Bulunga.
Meanwhile, Ikabort Masochaa��s Mbabane Citizens notched up a second successive 1-0 win of the season against Madlenya at Tambankulu last weekend.
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Online Reporter