Stellenbosch FC set a new record for the longest unbeaten streak in the club’s history after playing out a 1-1 DStv Premiership draw against Cape Town Spurs, extending their undefeated run to 16 matches across all competitions.

Stellies welcomed Spurs to the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday evening where they looked to extend their impressive form against their Cape rivals, having already completed a domestic double over Cape Town City and claimed victory over Spurs in the reverse fixture last year.

The night did not entirely go to plan for Steve Barker’s side, however, as it was the guests who landed the first significant blow of the encounter when they found the back of the net through youngster Asenele Velebayi’s goal late in the first half.

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The Maroons responded positively in the second stanza though, and came close to restoring parity shortly after the restart when Devin Titus, scorer of the winning goal in the mid-week derby against Cape Town City, saw his effort ricochet off the crossbar.

Not to be undone by that near-miss, Stellies continued to push for the equalising goal and were rewarded in the 68th minute when they referee pointed to the penalty sport after Denwin Farmer was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.

Iqraam Rayners took responsibility for the resultant spot-kick and made no mistake with his powerful effort, firing past Neil Boshoff in the opposition goal to score his seventh league goal of the 2023-24 campaign so far.

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That goal added renewed energy to Stellies’ pursuit of a winning goal and the team from the Winelands came inches away from finding it late on when Titus smashed a half-volley on target, only to see his effort once again rebound off the crossbar and away from danger.

Ultimately, the two teams had to settle for a point apiece, but the result saw Stellenbosch extend their unbeaten run to a club-record 16 matches across all competitions, dating back to the team’s last defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns in December last year.

Barker’s troops will be hoping to extend that record even further when they are in action again on Friday, 15 March, as they travel to the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban to take on Milford FC in the Nedbank Cup Round of 16.

The Stellenbosch FC starting XI: Masuluke, Van Rooyen (Jurgens), Basadien, Mcaba, Moloisane, Nduli (de Jong 70′), Matsheke (Mgaga 57′), Van Wyk (Boji 79′), Titus, Oura (Sibande 57′) & Rayners