Moroka Swallows ended a run of poor results and kept their hopes alive of finishing in the top eight when they scored a 3-1 win over relegation haunted Thanda Royal Zulu at the Germiston Stadium on Sunday.

The result leaves Thanda on 26 points - one ahead of second from bottom Bloemfontein Celtic who drew 1-1 in a tough battle against Orlando Pirates at the Free State Stadium on Sunday.

Bottom of the log Bay United, who did not play at the weekend, have 20 points with all three relegation candidates left with five fixtures to complete their programme.

There was not a lot of excitement for the paltry crowd in a dull first half in which neither goalkeeper, Birds Greg Etafia nor Aubrey Mathibe had any real saves to make. Mathibe did, however, have to take the ball out of his net after the home side took the lead in the 33rd minute — a goal which finally brought some life to proceedings.

The first 45 minutes lacked urgency. Thanda did not play like a team fighting relegation while the Birds did not look interested in regaining their place in the top eight.

That was until 'Birds' budding teenage star Thulani Ngcepe broke the deadlock with a well taken goal after a pin point cross from Mark Haskins in the 33rd minute.

The 19-year-old Brakpan born Ngcepe looked the liveliest player in the first half. He got into good positions on a couple of occasions but over eagerness saw him waste possession. But this youngster, who has already played for his country at SA under-17 and SA under-20 level, looks a future prospect.

Earlier, TRZ had two half chances when Felix Obada and Nkosinathi Nhleko both shot wide in the 14th and 22nd minutes respectively. But on the balance of play in the first half, the Birds deserved to change over 1-0 ahead.

The home side went onto the offensive at the start of the second half. Haskins' header from a Cecil Oerson cross was deflected for a corner in the 47th minute and, a minute later, Mathibe did well to save a well aimed shot from Ndlovu.

At the other end, former Bafana Bafana striker Nhleko headed wide from a good cross from Obada in the 53rd minute.

Mathibe, a former Swallows keeper then pulled off a stunning save when he palmed Haskins' 25 metre bullet over his crossbar in the 55th minute.

The Birds made it 2-0 in the 58th minute when the player nicknamed 'AK 47' Ndlovu fired home goal number two after another good cross form Oerson.

But TRZ finally woke up and started showing urgency and were rewarded when Nhleko blasted home after he was set up by substitute Clifford Mulenga to make it 2-1 in the 61st minute and give the Durban based club a lifeline.

Etafia did well to save Mulenga's shot in the 64th minute and, from the rebound, managed to hold onto Nhleko's goal bound strike.

But Ndlovu ended TRZ's hopes when he rounded Mathibe on the counter attack, and cleverly dribbled past former Orlando Pirates defender Tonic Chabalala to shoot home into an empty net on 65 minutes.

TRZ kept pushing and Etafia did well to deny Nhleko again with three fines save in the 70th, 81st and 85th minutes as TRZ tried to claw their way back into the game. Nhleko was the dangerman and was a constant thorn in the Birds' defence all afternoon.

Etafia, who had a busy second half, did brilliantly in injury time to dive at Obada's feet to prevent TRZ reducing the deficit.

Sapa

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