Felix Obada and Kurt Lentjies scored in either half while some great goalkeeping from Shu-Aib Walters ensured the clean sheet.

Arrows threatened as early as the seventh minute when Thanduyise Khuboni forced a great save with a well-struck volley. The goalkeeper showed great reflexes to turn the ball away for a corner.

However, just as Arrows were finding their rhythm, it was the home side who opened the scoring two minutes later when Felix Obada unleashed a powerful shot to the top corner after receiving a long pass from Peter Petersen.

The visitors continued to play positively in search of the equaliser and Katlego Mashego thought he’d found one in the 16th minute, but his shot went agonisingly wide.

From then it was Arrows who held a bigger portion of the possession but they were kept out by some resolute defending from Ian Palmer’s team, who successfully maintained their lead until the halftime break.

After the break it was Arrows who again started as the better side with Khuboni and Mashego shooting over the bar in the 48th and 52nd minute respectively.

Maritzburg United had a penalty shout turned down at the other end shortly afterwards when Diyo Sibisi went down as he tried to round the keeper, but the referee booked the striker for simulation instead.

With United protecting their lead, Arrows were mostly restricted to taking shots on the edge of the box and yet again it was Mashego who saw his shot tipped over the bar by Walters in the 56th minute.

Obada had the perfect to chance to grab his second goal of the match in the 57th minute when he was put through by a great pass from Sibisi, but Virgil Vries did well to parry the ball away, effectively keeping Arrows in the game.

Arrows created a few more chances but their poor finishing as well as Walters’ good form ensured that the score remained the same.

United eventually got a stranglehold on the game in the 78th when Obada was brought down by Musa Bilankulu about 20 yards from goal, Kurt Lentjies stepped up to take the free kick and beat the goalkeeper to put the home side 2-0 up.

The home team held on comfortably for their second win of the season while the result meant a fourth loss in five matches for coach Ernst Middendorp and his Golden Arrows charges.

The second goal seemed to give United more impetus to go for the kill as they started knocking the ball around and almost got a third goal in the 83rd minute but Obada was denied by Vries yet again.

Maritzburg: Walters, Lawrence (Ncubeni 38), Peterson, Diouf, Hendricks, Evans, Madondo, Lentjies, Olomu (Morton 56), Sibisi (Matle 83), Obada

Arrows: Vries, Musonda, Tom, Bilankulu, Johannes, Nene (Gabuza 64), Mashego, Shange, Khuboni, Macuphu (Manqana 46), Mbesuma