Jermaine Pennant continued his fine start to life in the S.League on Thursday as he combined with Jordan Webb to hand Tampines Rovers a 1-0 win over Balestier Khalsa at Jurong West Stadium.
It was a game in which the Stags dominated but were guilty of being hugely wasteful in front of goal.
The breakthrough arrived in the 47th minute when Pennant's pinpoint cross was headed home by Webb, which ultimately proved enough for the win.
With the result, Tampines remain one point clear at the top of the table and are the only unbeaten side left this season, but it could have been a far more straightforward outing for them.
Gaining the upper hand from the opening whistle, the hosts looked extremely dangerous, with Pennant and Webb providing the width for the front two of Billy Mehmet and Fazrul Nawaz.
However, they were let down by their touch in front of goal, with Fazrul and Webb spurning a series of decent opportunities, while Pennant had a fine free-kick brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Zaiful Nizam just before the break.
But it did not take them long to finally break the deadlock two minutes into the second half when the lively Pennant found space down the right. He floated an excellent cross to Webb, who met it with a looping header into the top corner.
The goal did breathe some fight into the Tigers and they threatened five minutes after the hour mark. But Sadin Smajovic could only head off target from a Miroslav Kristic cross.
Their best opportunity then came with 12 minutes remaining when substitute Jamil Ali broke free inside the box and played a clever lob over the onrushing Joey Sim. Nonetheless, just when it looked like he had forced the draw, he could only watch on in agony as the ball came back off the woodwork, allowing the Stags to hold on for maximum points.
Despite the slender winning margin, head coach V. Sundramoorthy believes Tampines were good value for their win.
"We created eight good chances while they honestly had maybe two," he said.
"If things went accordingly, the score maybe would have been a 5-2 win. "In the end, we didn't convert our chances but we were always comfortable with that one-goal cushion."
Meanwhile, Balestier boss Marko Kraljevic tried to remain upbeat, despite luck continuing to elude his team.
"Of course, it's always upsetting to lose a game," said the German-born Croatian.
"We're having the same problem and it's not easy to solve... no matter how well we defend and play, we just lack that one killer touch at the last.
"Still, we'll keep on working hard and hopefully our luck will turn around."
Tampines Rovers: Joey Sim, Ismadi Mukhtar, Shakir Hamzah, Afiq Yunos, Hafiz Abu Sujad, Jermaine Pennant (Fahrudin Mustafic 82'), Yasir Hanapi, Shahdan Sulaiman, Jordan Webb (Izzdin Shafiq 90'), Billy Mehmet, Fazrul Nawaz (Sufian Anuar 62').
Balestier Khalsa: Zaiful Nizam, Fadli Kamis, Sheikh Abdul Hadi, Emir Lotinac, Hanafi Salleh, Sadin Smajovic, Gary Loo (Danial Farhan Tan 60'), Fazli Ayob, Zulkiffli Hassim (Hazzuwan Halim 67'), Miroslav Kristic, Syafiq Zainal (Jamil Ali 60').
