Maritzburg United inflicted a third successive Absa Premiership defeat on Golden Arrows on Saturday evening, beating their KwaZulu-Natal rivals 1-0 at the newly refurbished Harry Gwala Stadium.

It is the Team of Choice?s first victory over Abafana Bes?thende, secured at the teams? eighth meeting since 2005/06 thanks to a second half goal from Fadlu Davids.

The match had a fast and furious opening, with some quick end-to-end football providing good entertainment for a packed house in Pietermaritzburg.

Both sides had a couple of wayward efforts in the opening quarter of an hour, though Richard Henyekane came closest for Arrows with a low shot that flashed just wide of Shu-Aib Walters? right hand post.

By the midway point of the first half the game had settled into something of a rhythm, with Arrows looking for quick counter attacks in contrast to United?s more measured style of play.

The visitors? Ntlantla Zothwane almost handed his side the lead just past the half hour mark, but after bursting into the box and tapping the ball past Walters he watched in frustration as Elias Ngwepe cleared it off the goal line.

On 36 minutes Kurt Lentjies clipped a lovely cross into the penalty area to find Fadlu Davids stretching a foot out for the ball but the striker couldn?t quite direct his effort on target.

Both sides continued to make half chances in the remainder of the first half, though the score line remained blank at the interval.

The early stages of the second half were much tighter and more tactical than the first half had been, with the teams reining in their attacking instincts somewhat.

However, the Team of Choice broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, with Lentjies doing brilliantly to skip free of Siyanda Zwane down the left before providing a perfect cutback from the by-line that was steered home at the near post by Fadlu Davids.

Abafana Bes?thende almost came up with an immediate reply, but Walters did well to repel Thokozani Msengu?s rasping shot at his near post.

On 72 minutes Brice Aka almost embarrassed Arrows? Helton Da Rocha, charging down a clearing kick from the keeper and then directing a shot on target from the loose ball that the goal minder had to bat away for a corner kick.

Eight minutes later Joseph Musonda and Da Rocha had a breakdown in communication and the defender almost scored an own goal as a result; luckily for the Zambian he was quick enough to prevent the ball running into his own net.

United held out for the victory and the three points sees them move up three places on the log table to tenth place and leapfrog Arrows, who drop down to 11th.