The Betway Premiership returned from its international break on Tuesday, with two tightly contested fixtures that saw Kaizer Chiefs move to within two points of the top of the table and Stellenbosch FC get a first win under new coach Gavin Hunt.

Chiefs made a winning start to the second half of the season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Lamontville Golden Arrows at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

A first-half strike from defender Aden McCarthy five minutes before halftime proved decisive, though he did appear to be offside from Lebohang Maboe’s flick.

The goal ultimately separated the two sides as Chiefs held firm to claim all three points. The win lifts the Soweto giants up to third place on the Premiership table, closing the gap on the summit and reaffirming their credentials as contenders in a competitive title race.

Golden Arrows, meanwhile, remain mid-table, and have now lost their last four league games in a row.

Meanwhile, Stellenbosch FC claimed a gritty 1-0 victory away at Sekhukhune United in Polokwane.

New signing Tshegofatso Mabasa marked his debut with the all-important goal, giving Hunt an immediate boost in his first match as coach.

The win provides much-needed momentum for Stellies, who had struggled earlier in the campaign, and lifts them up one place in the standings to 13th, four points clear of the drop zone. Sekhukhune slip to fourth.