THOHOYANDOU - Black Leopards suffered another blow when they lost vital points to Ria Stars in their Castle Premiership League fixture that was played at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday. The score was 2-0 at the end of the game.

The Stars approached the game with their tails up, but the referee, Petros Mathabela diluted their original fighting spirit when he flashed a yellow card to their mid-fielder, Sphiwe Mkhonza, in the 10th minute. The Leopards' new signee, Jacob Tshisevhe and their captain Magic Ratshivhadelo were also booked for various offences.

Lidoda Duvha's keeper, Conrad Hendricks, made his presence felt when he saved Fees Moloi's ground cutter in the 20th minute, but two minutes later Hendricks suffered the pain of watching Thapelo Liau's shot going beyond his reach.

The home team fortified its centre by substituting Donald Mulaudzi and Mulondo Sikhwivhilu for Johannes Nkande and Magic Ratshivhadelo early in the second half. Although that proved to be a clever move on the part of the Leopards' coach, they still could not make the ball cross the goal line.

Manyora put the matter beyond doubt, when Godfrey Ramudzuli committed a clearing error and surrendered the ball to Fees Moloi who had an easy walk towards the Leopards' danger zone to beat Hendricks. The Thohoyandou outfit realised that it was not their day, when Sbusiso Dlamini's shot hit the goal post and bounced back into the field of play.

What could have been the only goal for the home side turned into a nightmare as the scorer, Mulondo Sikhwivhilu, was said to be in an off-side position. Donald Mulaudzi's header went a little wide moments later, thus leaving Leopards with no hope at all.