A second half goal from Collins Mbesuma handed Mpumalanga Black Aces a 1-0 win over Maritzburg United in an Absa Premiership match at the Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday night.

It was an evenly balanced game early on with both sides battling for supremacy in the midfield.

It was Maritzburg who took charge and had the first effort on goal when Mohammed Anas tried his luck from long range, but saw his effort well-saved by the keeper.

On the half hour mark Anas was in the thick of the action when his hot from the edge of the box went narrowly wide of the target.

Aces suffered a bit of a set-back in the 42nd minute when Vincent Kobola had to leave the field injured and was replaced by Roger da Costa.

Still, aces pushed forward and created the best chance of the half in the dying seconds of the stanza when Dennis Masina’s effort from roughly 18-yards out went inches wide of the goal.

The half ended 0-0.

The second half saw Maritzburg pushing hard and Anas struck the woodwork with an effort from 20-yards out in the 55th minute.

Aces took control of the game after that and made their pressure tell in the 71st minute when Collins Mbesuma gave the home side the lead with a clinical right-foot finish, 1-0.

Maritzburg tried to find an equaliser in the final 15 minutes of the game, but Aces held on for their seventh league win of the season.

Black Aces (0) 1 (Mnesuma 71’)

Black Aces: Jackson Mabokgwane, Vincent Kobola (Roger da Costa 42’), Eddie Ngalo, Lehlohonolo Nonyane, Bhongolwethu Jayiya (Valery Nahayo 80’), Edwin Gyimah, Aubrey Ngoma, Thanduyise Khuboni, Dennis Masina (Abia Nale 56’), Onyekachi Okonkwo, Collins Mbesuma.

United: Virgil Vries, Abel Mabaso, Mohammed Awal (Thokozani Sekotlong 64’), David Booysen, John Pantsil, Ryan De Jong (Nhlanhla Vilakazi 73’), Kurt Lentjies, Mondli Cele (Mohau Mokate 65’), Deolin Mekoa, Philani Zulu, Thamsanqa Mkhize.