Stellenbosch FC were held to a goalless draw by Richards Bay in a Betway Premiership clash on Wednesday.

Stellenbosch FC, looking to return to winning ways following a defeat to Richards Bay over the weekend, welcomed Durban City to a cold and windy Danie Craven Stadium on Wednesday evening for another important Betway Premiership encounter.

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The match started in a fairly muted fashion, with both sides content to feel each other out during the initial stages, before opening up into an entertaining and end-to-end battle as the first half drew to a close.

With just under an hour played, Athenkosi Mcaba and Omega Mdaka were forced into making key defensive interventions in the Stellies box to deny Letsie Koapeng and Haashim Domingo the chance to give the guests the lead.

Minutes later, at the other end of the pitch, Sanele Barns came close to opening the scoring with a free-kick from range that drifted in the wind and almost caught out City’s keeper, Darren Keet.

There was no separating the sides at the half-time break, though, as the two teams headed into the dressing rooms with the scores still deadlocked.

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Following the interval, Durban City came out of the blocks quickest, and Stellies captain Sage Stephens was forced to make a point-blank save to keep the scores level.

Coach Steve Barker responded by making three substitutions, with Andre de Jong, Genino Palace, and Ashley Cupido introduced in place of Chumani Butsaka, Thato Khiba, and Sanele Barns, respectively.

Barker’s tinkering almost paid immediate dividends when De Jong lined up a powerful effort from range that stung the palms of Keet, who did well to prevent his net from bulging.

The veteran shot-stopper was on hand to rescue his side again near the death when he raced to the edge of his box to deny Ashley Cupido after the striker capitalised on a moment of defensive uncertainty.

Ultimately, that proved to be the last significant chance of the match as the two sides settled for a share of the spoils.

Stellenbosch FC starting XI: Stephens, Enyinnaya, Mdaka, Mcaba, Stanic, Khiba (Palace 62′), Butsaka (De Jong 62′), Mthiyane, Barns (Cupido 62′), Titus, Mojela (Lekoloane 80′)