Jomo Cosmos defeated Mpumalanga Black Aces 2-1 to earn their first victory of the Premier Soccer League season when the two newly-promoted outfits clashed at Rand Stadium on Wednesday night.

Cosmos took control early on and, while Aces fought back hard in the second half, the home side managed to hold them off to secure a morale boosting win and a much needed three points.

Aces had the first real shot at goal in the sixth minute when Sepeke Manamela fired one over the top from outside the big box, but the visitors were then forced into retreat for much of the second half.

In the ninth minute, Koena Mathopa, who led the Cosmos charge for the first half hour, sent a long range effort wide and 10 minutes later the striker gifted a soft header into the hands of Aces goalkeeper Oscar Ramogoadi.

But midway through the stanza, Mathopa was rewarded for his attacking efforts when he collected the ball a couple of metres from the Aces goalline, controlled it well and slotted it into the back of the net.

Aces gave themselves few opportunities and, in the 34th minute, former Cosmos player Lucas Thlomelang threw away a chance for the visitors when he fluffed a header that bounced over the crossbar.

And Cosmos capitalised immediately when a minute later Bongani Theletsani fired one in from just inside the box to give them a 2-0 lead which they held till half-time.

But a stern lecture from Aces coach Sammy Troughton seemed to have the desired results and the visitors returned to the field looking like a different side.

From the whistle, Aces dominated the second half with Motha Madoda getting one back in the 52nd minute. Surrounded by Cosmos defenders, Madoda did well to control the ball and fire it past home side keeper Avril Phali.

But another five chances from the Aces strike force within the next 13 minutes failed to produce any more goals, highlighted by a diving header from Godfrey Nombula which missed the right post by centimetres.

Cosmos eventually came back to life and Larry Cohen was unlucky not to stretch their lead in the 84th minute when he thundered the ball in from well outside the box but struck the crossbar.

And Mathopa fluffed an easy close range opportunity in the dying minutes but Cosmos had done enough and hung on to pull themselves off the bottom rung of the ladder.