Although Winners Park played the second half with 10 men, they managed to snatch a 1-0 victory at the expense of Basel FC in their Vodacom Promotional League match at a packed Malamulele Stadium on Saturday.

The absence of their former Black Leopards striker, Jafta Mabosho, was evident from the start. Mobosho watched the game from the grandstand, due to an injury he sustained two weeks ago.

The visitors from Mokopane threatened to score in the seventh minute. Their midfielder, July Sekonyane, rounded up the Basel defender, Tshifhiwa Ramatsea, and unleashed a volley. The ball hit the woodwork and bounced back into the field of play.

There was a short drama in the 38th minute. A defender of Winners Park, Puleng Rolane, tackled Hlamulo Maluleke of Basel the rough way. The referee, Mr Deon Mphuma, warned him with a card. Rolane then started to shout abusive words towards the referee, accusing him of incompetency. The lone referee hit back by giving the player his marching orders.

Winners Park did not stop fighting, despite the setback. They created some dangerous moves from behind and used Jeffrey Makone as the only striker, relying greatly on the counter attacks. It worked for them as they scored the only goal of the day in the 74th minute. Thomas Mokeona beat the heeper with a ground cutter.

Basel effected three changes to their starting lineup soon afterwards, but that did not change the score line.