Bloemfontein - Tshegofatso Mabasa's goal proved the difference on the day as Bloemfontein Celtic recorded a 1-0 victory over Richards Bay on Saturday to book their place in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.

The visitors came flying out at the start of the first half, creating handful of half chances in the opening 10 minutes.

Michael Gumede and Kulegani Madondo both tried their luck from range but failed to hit the target as Celtic were forced to sit back and defend their box.

Siwelele eventually lodged their first noteworthy shot on goal in the 14th minute, but Mabasa showed a real lack of composure as he lashed a powerful effort over from inside the box.

However, the best chance of the half fell to Siyanda Ngubo in the 29th minute after Celtic goalkeeper Amour Tignyemb had raced off his line and outside his area to snuff out the danger. Tignyemb only succeeded in gifting the ball back to Ngubo, whose subsequent shot looked to be heading over the line before Mbhazima Rikhotso saved the day with a last-ditch block.

Richards Bay had a chance of their own three minutes later, but Kabelo Dlamini's powerful shot from outside the box flew narrowly over the crossbar.

It was more of the same from the visitors after the half-time break as they showed willingness to shoot from range.

Richards Bay were let off the hook in the 57th minute after an unmarked Kabelo Dlamini somehow failed to find the mark from inside the box, while at the opposite end of the pitch, Katlego Maphathe failed to find the mark on two separate occasions.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 66th minute, though, as Mabasa made amends for his glaring miss in the first half. Phalane was the architect, collecting the ball out wide before cutting inside and finding Mabasa, who tuned his marker and fired home.

The visitors were still reeling from the opening goal when Celtic were awarded a penalty four minutes later following a handball in the danger area. The chance was squandered, however, as Tignyemb saw his initial effort saved before smashing the rebound over the bar.

That missed opportunity did not come back to haunt Celtic, though, as Richards Bay failed to create any real chances despite throwing numbers forward in the closing stages of the contest.

And their frustration came to a head with two minutes remaining as Katlego Maphathe saw red for a bad foul on Bongani Sam.

Celtic had one last chance to add a second goal at the death, but Richards Bay 'keeper Andile Mbanjwa did well to deny Mabena in a one-on-one situation.