Thami Nqolobe

Thami Nqolobe

If they cherish any hope of improving their position on the log, Santos must win all their remaining matches at home and improve their record on the road.

Santos beat Benoni Premier United 2-0 in a rain-soaked Castle Premiership League encounter played at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Friday evening.

The victory has moved "The People's Team" from 11th to 10th place from 20 games played, but coach, Roger de Sa, wants to see his charges in the top four bracket of the log.

"Our win over United was a morale booster after we lost 1-0 to Orlando Pirates. My team is ready for our next opponents and the guys have promised not let their followers down," said a smilling De Sa.

While the coach of the relegation haunted "Rabbits", Sonas Malope, was concerned about his team losing games, he was adamant it was only a matter of time before they moved away from the relegation zone.

Though the game was dull in the first half, Santos were 1-0 up at half-time through Erwin Isaacs's goal. It came after a poor clearance by the visitors'' defence in the 38th minute.

The Rabbits had nothing to show as they easily lost the ball to Santos and were reduced to 10 men in the 62nd minute when referee, Lwandile Mfiki sent Bernard Parker off for retaliating to an elbow charge from Santos' Mogogi Gabonamong.

Santos' second goal of the match came in the 54th minute from an overhead kick by Koena Mathopa.