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Wits get title bid back on track

Cape Town - Lamontville Golden Arrows succumbed to another defeat in the Absa Premiership when they lost 1-0 to Bidvest Wits on Saturday at the Chatsworth Stadium.
 
Despite making strides to get a win and avoid their fourth loss in 2016, Abafana Bes’thende were overpowered by Gavin Hunt’s men.
 
Following the loss, the Premier Soccer League returnees are now placed at position nine on the log table with 21 points from 17 matches.
 
Clinton Larsen’s men started the game well and were the first to attack in the 18th minute when Deon Hotto took a shot after receiving a good ball on the far right, but his rushed effort went wide.
 
In the 22nd minute, Arrows nearly scored when Kudakwashe Mahachi unleashed a shot after a brilliant one-touch move going forward, but the Zimbabwean’s shot on the edge of the box went inches wide.
 
The Students broke the deadlock through debutant Hlanti in the 28th minute with a well taken free kick after Henrico Botes was fouled, and the ex-AmaZulu beat Mbaeva on his near post with a stunning curler.
 
In the 30th minute, Wits nearly grabbed a double when Botes took another set piece but it went over the bar.
 
Two minutes later, Josephs was forced to make a great save to deny Abafana Bes’thende when Rodney Ramagalela took a shot from close range after a corner, but the keeper was equal to the task.
 
With a few minutes to go to tunnel, Arrows came back strong in injury time with Gladwin Shitolo missing a sitter on the stroke of half time. A minute later, Khenyeza’s header was denied by the woodwork.
 
It was 1-0 at half-time and after 60 minutes into the contest, Wits nearly scored when the man of the match Hlanti delivered a great ball once again from a set piece but Mbaeva was alert to tip it over the cross bar.
 
Before the 70th minute, Larsen brought on Mahlatse Makudubela who nearly made an immediate impact when he saw his shot hitting the woodwork before hitting Josephs to go out for a corner, and Velile Zitha’s follow up effort went wide.
 
Despite their efforts to get an equaliser, it was Hunt’s men who held onto their lead and walked away with the three points, handing Arrows their fourth loss on the trot.
 
The victory took the Clever Boys to the second spot on the log table with 36 points, three points behind Mamelodi Sundowns, who are set to play Free State Stars on Sunday afternoon.
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