Bloemfontein Celtic scored an important 1-0 victory on the road their bitter rivals Free State Stars on Sunday afternoon at the Charles Mopeli Stadium in Phutadijaba.

The only goal of an open and entertaining game came courtesy of Celtic striker Tlou Segolela in the 86th minute. Stars did have the chance to take a 49th minute lead when they were awarded a penalty, but their captain Duncan Lechesa missed the spot-kick allowing the Phunta Sele Sele to steal victory at the death.

The rivalry between the teams came to a head in the 15th minute when both sets of players were involved in a melee, it came about when Excellent Walaza kicked at Stars defender Mensah while he was on the floor as he attempted to a clear a Celtic corner he fell on the ball. As Mensah came to his feet he had to be held back as he chased Walaza and both players ended up collecting a caution from the referee.

As half time approached the intensity and speed of the game picked up, there was some good link play between Celtic front men Walaza and Segolela, it was the latter who found himself inside the Stars 18 yard area and released a ferocious shot which hit Stars skipper Duncan Lechesa. The ball fell invitingly to Moses Spandeel lurking on the right but his effort had no direction and the ball flew over Stars keeper Mweene in the 37th minute.

The final action of the first half saw the home team come inches away from taking the lead. The move set up by former Celtic player Kleinbooi Taaibos saw him with a delightful pass catch the Celtic defence out cold and found teammate Moholo who picked his run perfectly and latched onto the ball from a tight angle instead the Celtic 18 yard box. His effort whizzed past Celtic keeper Tignyemb and hit the left hand up right, this happening in the final minute of the first half.

It was Moholo who was at the forefront of the action as the second half got under way and it took him just three minutes to have Celtic keeper Patrick Tignyemb at full stretch to push away his effort on goal from a tight angle on the right.

The resulting corner saw Celtic somehow fail to adequately clear the ball and it eventually landed up hitting the hand of their defender Sambu, which resulted in Stars getting a penalty. The home team though failed to take the lead as Duncan Lechesa sent the ensuing spot kick well wide of goal with a poorly taken penalty.

In the final quarter of the match both teams had efforts on goal which all fell to second half substitutes. Stars striker Sthembiso Ngcobo had two duplicate headers on goal in the 77th and 79th minutes: on both occasions he managed to get to pin point crosses from the right but in both cases all he could do was head the ball straight at Tignyemb.

It was then the turn of Celtics two second half additions to squander great Chances. Sandile Ndlovu was the first culprit; he let himself down by finishing poorly when in a one on one situation with Mweene, hitting the ball far off the mark.

Then his strike partner Mark Mayambela initially did well to speed past a Stars defender, but his final effort at goal from the right could only hit the side netting, these chances came Celtics way in the 80th and 82nd minutes.

For all their persistence Celtic were rewarded four minutes from regulation time in rather fortuitous circumstances it must be said. Tlou Segolela hit the ball goal wards from around 22 yards out and it managed to hit Stars defender Jonathan Mensah which took the ball away from Kennedy Mweene and into the back of the net.