Black Leopards lost 0-1 to National First Division side Bay United in a first-leg Promotion Play-off match at Woolfsons Stadium on Wednesday.

The loss has left 'Lidoda Duvha' with a mountain to climb in their bid to retain their Absa Premiership status next season.

United started the better of the two sides and they almost took the lead in the third minute when Adebayo Abeyomi unleashed a powerful shot that narrowly missed its target.

But the Leopards response was quick, as David Makgale brought out the best out United goalkeeper Arthur Bartman just seven minutes later.

It was, however, the home side which took the lead through Siyabulela Songwiqi in the 31st minute when he finished off a well-constructed United move.

Abeyomi almost doubled United's lead in the 42nd minute, but his shot hit the upright. Linos Chalwe then sent his shot skywards from the rebound.

The score remained 1-0 in favour of United at half-time.

Leopards came back strongly in the second half and they put United under tremendous pressure, but luck continued to desert the visitors in a bid to force an equaliser.

The Venda-based side created a lot of goal-scoring opportunities, but they just could not put the ball into the back of the net.

And when Bartman produced a brilliant save to deny Alpheus Kekana in the 86th minute, it became clear that it was not going to be Leopards' day.

'Lidoda Duvha' will get a second bite at the cherry, however, when these two teams meet in the second leg of the Promotion Play-offs at Malamulele Stadium on Sunday at 3pm.