Green Mamba kept their unbeaten start intact with a 2-0 victory over Tabankulu in the Premier League's regular season round two on Friday evening. The hosts moved within striking distance of the summit, while the visitors remain rooted in the bottom half of the table. And here's the thing — this result changes the complexion of the early standings considerably.
Green Mamba had dropped points in their opening fixture and lost two subsequent matches, so the clean sheet was a relief. By then you could sense they were ready to put those defeats behind them. Tabankulu, meanwhile, have now lost two of three league games and sit 11th with just one point from their opening match.
The visitors came into this encounter knowing they had to improve on their previous meeting with Green Mamba, a 3-2 defeat back in May. Those recent results told their own story — three consecutive goals against in their last game before this one, and two draws followed by a loss. To be fair, they had shown resilience earlier with back-to-back 0-0 draws against Amavel and Ezulwini United.
What this means in practice is that Green Mamba hold a four-point cushion over their opponents after just two league fixtures. The hosts sit second on four points, having won one and drawn one, while Tabankulu's single point from a draw and loss keeps them well off the pace. The old head settled them down, and the result reflected that composure.
Gone are the days of chasing results — Green Mamba now have one foot in the top four conversation if they maintain this level. Tabankulu will need to find their form quickly if they want to escape the lower reaches. Cup football has its own rules, but this is league football, and consistency is the only currency that matters.