Supersport fail to make chances count in Swallows stalemate

Supersport had the better of the chances on the day but failed to make the most of them as the home side just about did enough to earn their share of the spoils.

The result sees Gavin Hunt's men remaining in third place, one point behind Richards Bay in second. Swallows, meanwhile, will no doubt take the hard-fought point - though it still leaves them languishing second-from-bottom on the table.

After a quiet opening spell, Aubrey Ngoma fired the first shot in anger for Supersport and was unlucky not to pick up a spectacular goal after seeing his long-range effort cannon off the crossbar.

Not long after, it was Swallows' turn to trouble the keeper when Mbulelo Wambi latched on to an inviting cross and fired his header just wide of the target.

Supersport had another chance to take the lead after an impressive counter-attack down the left flank but Thamsanqa Gabuza could not keep his effort under control after the cross came in.

Ngoma should have given the visitors the lead on 20 minutes after getting the assist from Gabuza and finding himself with a clear shot at goal from 10 yards out, but having done so well with his long-range strike earlier, he could not find the target on this occasion from right in front.

Supersport continued to enjoy the better of the chances in the first half, including a well-placed header from Bradley Grobler that forced a smart save out of Thakasani Mbanjwa, but it nonetheless finished goalless at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half, Mbanjwa came to Swallows' rescue again after diving down low to save a well-taken free-kick from Grobler that was destined for the goal.

And it would be more of the same as the second half progressed, with Supersport enjoying the lion's share of possession and territory, but failing to make it count on the scoreboard.

Not even a triple-substitution from Hunt in the form of an entirely new front-line could do the trick - although substitute Mamour Niang did miss out on a good chance to snatch all three points for Supersport with six minutes to play after failing to control the final touch following a well-placed cross into the box.