Moroka Swallows picked up their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Free State Stars at the Goble Park Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The home side were on top for most of the first half as Swallows showed very little thrust in attack.

It was all Stars early on as Tebelo Mofokeng nearly snuck in on goal in the second minute and then Swallows keeper Greg Etafia pulled off a sensational save to keep a 30-yard cracker from Kleinbooi Taaibos out the net in the sixth minute.

Stars continued to dominate the game, but were not able to fashion any more clear-cut opportunities.

Following a disjointed opening 35 minutes, the Birds upped their game towards the end of the first stanza, with Collins Mbesuma having a powerful shot blocked at the near post by Walter Khumalo in the 38th minute, before Lefa Tsutsulupa fired into the stands after a 40th minute goal-box scramble.

Stars were back on the offensive in the second half, having the first chances of the stanza when Kingston Nkatha fired wide from the right in the 56th minute and then two minutes later Etafia tipped Mpho Makola?s excellent strike from distance around the post.

Soon after that Makola was even closer when he pounced on a defensive blunder from Ashraf Hendricks, but saw his effort strike the post.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 75th minute when Siyabonga Nomvethe headed home after Hendricks had headed corner into his path.

Stars had chances to equalise through Nkatha and Thamane Motaung, but they could not beat an on-form Etafia, while Mbesuma was unlucky not to get on the score-sheet when his 89th minute volley landed on the cross-bar.