Golden Arrows picked up their third league victory of the season when they beat Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in an exciting clash at the Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Unlike previous occasions when Arrows had thrown away precious points after finding themselves in favourable positions, they put in a determined effort to protect the advantage gained in the 26th minute through a Musa Bilankulu header, and thwarted Sundowns' relentless efforts to salvage something from the fixture.

The first half was fairly evenly contested as action flowed from end to end, much to the delight of the approximately 6000 supporters that pitched up for the encounter.

Midfielder Bilankulu scored the winner when he rose majestically to head home Richard Henyekane's corner. The home side earned the set piece from a sweeping move that started on the halfway line and progressed into Sundowns' penalty area.

Bilankulu and Nhlanhla Zothwane played pivotal roles, using some slick inter-passing to set up Vusumuzi Vilakazi for a crack at goals, and Brian Baloyi in the Sundowns area was required to tip the striker's well struck shot over the crossbar.

In the 34th minute Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela slipped his markers and made a darting run into the Arrows penalty area but goalkeeper Thulasizwe Khuzwayo averted the danger by coming off his line in a hurry and claiming the ball off the striker's bootlaces.

A few minutes before the interval, Khuzwayo made a hash of Mphela's well drilled free kick from distance. Luckily for him, defender Siyanda Zwane was on hand to make the clearance.

Sundowns changed gears after the break and pressed hard for an equaliser. Elias Pelembe, Esrom Nyandoro and Benedict Vilakazi, who came on as a substitute, were in imperious form in the visitors' engine room but were unable to deliver the telling blow that would have prevented them from leaving Chatsworth empty handed.

For Arrows, who have earned the reputation of being the PSL's draw kings, were content to absorb the pressure and hit back with some clever counter-attacking play. Most often, Bafana Bafana discard Henyekane was at the end of the home team's sniping breaks.