Kaizer Chiefs climbed to the top of the Absa Premiership table when they edged out Lamontville Golden Arrows 1-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Thursday night.

Bernard Parker scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot early in the second half to help his side leapfrog Mamelodi Sundowns into first place with 27 points.

It was the away side who fired the first shot in anger in the 14th minute when Siphiwe Tshabalala received the ball just outside the box, but his low effort skidded wide of goal.

Twelve minutes later Siyabonga Nkosi brought down Reneilwe Letsholonyane’s lobbed pass for Knowledge Musona inside the box, but his bouncing shot was saved by Ryan Harrison.

In the 33rd minute Letsholonyane tried to catch the Arrows goalkeeper off-guard with a snapshot from outside the box, but his volleyed effort dipped over the crossbar.

Four minutes later Ntlantla Zothwane flicked Harrison’s long ball towards Bongi Ntuli inside the box but Itumeleng Khune put his body on the line to keep his soft effort out.

Stuart Baxter’s men came inches close to taking the lead in the 39th minute but Nkanyiso Mgwengwe deflected Tsepo Masilela’s cross onto the crossbar.

The ball fell fall Gaxa on the edge of the six yard box but the fullback sent his header straight onto the right upright.

The visitors were denied by the woodwork yet again in the first minute of added time when Nkosi cut in from the left side of the box, but his shot came off the outside of the near post as the two sides went into the break with the scores level.

Chiefs broke the deadlock in the 48th minute into the second half when Parker sent Harrison the wrong way from the penalty after Mzivukile Tom was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.

Ntuli had an opportunity to reply for Abafana Bes’thende at the other end a minute later but he was denied by a solid low save from Khune.

The next opportunity fell for Tshabalala in the 69th minute when he cut in from the right to switch the ball to his favourite left foot, only to see his low strike turned around the post by Harrison.

Arrows created some chances late in the game and almost leveled matters in the 80th minute when Nene set the ball up for Ntuli inside the box, but his powerful shot was well-saved by Khune.

Eight minutes later Joseph Musonda played the ball over the Chiefs defence towards Philani Shange but Khune stormed off his line to punch the ball to safety and secure the 1-0 win for his side.

Lamontville Golden Arrows 0

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Parker pen. 48’)

Lamontville Golden Arrows: Harrison, Zwane S, Musonda, Mgwengwe (Sithole 65’), Tom, Mlotshwa, Shange, Zothwane (Polelo 74’), Mothibantwa (Nene 57’), Khuboni, Ntuli

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa, Gould, Mashamaite, Masilela, Katsande, Letsholonyane (Dladla 64’), Tshabalala (Ritchie 90’), Parker, Nkosi (Bukenya 85’), Musona