Stellenbosch FC extended an impressive record in the Cape Derby after recording a 1-0 victory over rivals Cape Town City in Friday’s DStv Premiership encounter.

Steve Barker’s side ensured that the Western Cape remained maroon after downing rivals Cape Town City at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday, courtesy of a solitary goal from Ivory Coast international, Anicet Oura.

The result saw Stellenbosch extend their current unbeaten run to eight matches across all competitions, while also continuing a strong run of form against the Citizens which has now seen Stellies win five and draw one of the last six meetings between the two sides.

Friday’s encounter proved to be a typically tight, yet lively affair and opened with an early opportunity from Iqraam Rayners who found the back of the net with a lobbed effort, only to be pulled back by the referee’s whistle.

Rayners had another chance just minutes later when he dribbled beyond a couple of City defenders but he couldn’t make a proper connection with his strike, and his miss was almost punished moments later when Khanyisa Mayo came close to opening the scoring at the other end.

Mayo drove a powerful on target and was only denied by an acrobatic save from Oscarine Masuluke, deputising in goal for Stellenbosch in the absence of Sage Stephens who was serving a one-match suspension.

Cape Town City and Stellenbosch then both had good chances to opening the scoring, with Masuluke again denying the visitors, and Keanu Cupido stopping a three-v-one situation by the hosts, before Anicet Oura finally made the breakthrough.

With time running out in the first half, the Ivorian forward collected a cut-back from Devin Titus and made no mistake with the finish, firing home a powerful right-footed effort to give Stellenbosch the lead.

That is how proceedings remained until the half-time whistle, and Stellies were out the blocks quick in the second half as they looked to consolidate their advantage.

Just four minutes after the restart, Titus latched on to a ball from Rayners and fired it passed City ‘keeper Darren Keet, but he could only watch as his effort dragged just wide of the left-hand upright.

An end-to-end affair ensured in the remaining half an hour and City had a wonderful opportunity to draw level at the death when Taahir Goedeman headed a late opportunity against the cross bar after an inviting free-kick by Patrick Fisher.

Eight minutes was then added on to add to the tensions, which spilled over when Mayo was shown a red card in the dying moments, but Barker’s troops held on to ensure that bragging rights would remain in Stellenbosch in 2023.