Black Leopards failed to bring home the maximum league points from their NFD League match against Mthatha Bucks at the Mthatha Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors from Thohoyandou soon realized that it was not their day after squandering numerous scoring opportunities in the opening minutes of the game.
Mthatha Bucks are still fighting for survival, despite depositing one point into their league account, while Black Leopards are now lying in the fifth spot.
Witbank Spurs kept their promotional playoff hopes alive by beating Richards Bay FC 2-1 at the Puma Rugby Stadium in eMalahleni. Spurs moved to the sixth spot, following the victory.
Jomo Cosmos registered their first win in 2018, following their 2-1 victory over fellow promotional playoff chasers, Stellenbosch FC, at the Vosloorus Stadium. Cosmos did not lose hope, despite the fact that the visitors from Cape Town were the first to find the net in the first half. Tebogo Mabula and Mpho Rasilingwane scored for Cosmos later in the game.
Ubuntu Cape Town, who have been languishing at the bottom of the log for the past five months, moved two steps up the ladder, following their 3-1 victory over Pretoria University.
Highlands Park kept their title hopes alive by beating Uthongathi 1-0 at the Makhulong Stadium in Thembisa. Peter Shalulile's close-range stike was good enough to earn the Lions of the North the much-needed three points.
Highlands Park are now 11 points ahead of the second-placed Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.
Real Kings lost 0-1 to Royal Eagles. Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila used their home-ground advantage to beat Mbombela United at the Thohoyandou Stadium. Sello Chokoe's boys were already two goals up seven minutes into the game. Carlton Nyadombo and Themba Ndlovu scored for TTM, while United pulled one back towards the end of the first half.