PORT ELIZABETH - The South African coastal stream National First Division League is half way through its second round and things look promising for Bay Uniteds Major David Bright.

Umlilo, as Bay is affectionately called by its legions of supporters, went into the weekend game against Ikapa Sport in search of maximum points to keep their dreams of promotion to the Absa Premier League alive.

The game played at Westbourne Athletics Oval, started on a blistering pace as Bright adopted an aggressive and attack minded approach while Sergio Dos Santos boys relied on counter attack.

Ikapa sportings defence was kept busy from the first whistle as Bays hard running strikers Jimmy Kauleza and Vincent Khumalo kept them in sixes and sevens with telling crosses from the wings where Pontsho Moloi and Nhlanhla Vilakazi worked their magic.

Bright revealed that his plan and approach were to score three quick goals in the first half but his main worry - lack of goals - was at play once again.

His strikers missed so many begging chances with Kauleza being the main culprit.

The goal which later proved to be the winner came in the 17th minute through the teams top goal scorer Vincent Khumalo.

The hard working Kauleza managed to beat Ikapas offside trap and played the ball back to Khumalo who hit the roof of the net to give the host team the lead. The visitors, with their defensive play, also had their fare share of missed chances.

Bay could have increased their lead early before recess but both Kauleza and Pontsho missed what could be described as sitters.

Bright later revealed that Pontsho was playing with an ankle injury hence his cautious approach in 50/50 situations. The ankle might require a small surgery or constant treatment as his absence from the team can limit Brights options especially with his creativity. He was substituted late in the second half after being denied a penalty.

The marginal win takes Brights charges to the top of the log especially with rivals Vasco Da Gama having lost over the weekend.

The win puts Bay three points clear of second placed Vasco at 23 points with 10 games remaining.

Bright expressed his need for a striker but his team is financially constrained. He now plans to concentrate more on free kicks as a remedy for lack of goals from his current strikers.

However, he hopes for a breakthrough that could see Jerome JJ Ramatlhakwana joining Pontsho and Noah Maposa at Umlilo before the end of the current transfer window.

His plan is to win 75 per cent of the remaining matches to be better placed for Bays return to Absa premier league.

Bay travel to Cape Town for their next game against FC Cape Town which could see Noah Maposa manning the posts for the first time. Bay United won the first leg 2-0.

Still in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town Santos hosted Kaizer Chiefs on Friday evening at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.

Santos lost the game 1-0. Both Mogogi Gabonamong and Boitumelo Mafoko paraded for their team but could not do much to consolidate their teams good run in the league.

Santos had enjoyed an unbeaten run in eleven games before losing to Chiefs on Friday. BOPA