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Durban - Papy Faty slotted home with three minutes to play as Wits claimed a deserved 2-1 Premiership victory over Golden Arrows in Umlazi, outside Durban, on Saturday afternoon.
Sibusiso Vilakazi had fired the visitors ahead less than 60 seconds after the interval, before Ryan Chapman wasted a string of chances to close off the win.
And when substitute Lucky Nguzana equalised seven minutes from time, it appeared the hosts had earned a share of the spoils, but Faty had the final say, sending Clive Barker's men soaring to the top half of the log.
Following a slow start to the game, the hosts created the first opening after 10 minutes when Sibusiso Hadebe picked out Bonginkosi Ntuli in the box, with the striker controlling well and forcing Thapelo Mabokgwane into a low save to his left.
Midway through the half, Mzivukile Tom's cross from the left appeared to catch Musa Bilankulu by surprise with the midfielder hurriedly pushing wide.
Wits' best chance finally arrived before the half hour when the outstanding Asive Langwe picked out Chapman unmarked in the centre of the box, but the striker's header was brilliantly tipped over by a sprawling Nkosi Gumede.
Moments later Ntuli blazed over as chances began to come at a quicker rate, before the same Arrows player dragged another attempt wide after skipping away down the right.
On the stroke of half-time, Vilakazi spun away neatly from his marker after being threaded in by a superb Matthew Pattison ball from midfield, only to pull his shot wide at the near post.
Wits then surged ahead straight from the kick-off as Langwe controlled expertly from far out and played in Vilakazi, who lifted the ball beyond a helpless Gumede.
The home team tried to conjure up a response through Bilankulu, but he could only find the side-netting with a shot from wide on the left.
The Students then almost doubled their lead when a quick counter-attack led to a Chapman shot which was blocked well by Gumede diving to his left.
The lively Chapman continued to pose problems in the final third, and after stroking wide from inside the box, he tested Gumede with another clever first-time header and also put another over the top.
Wits were made to pay for those misses as Nguzana drew level seven minutes from time when he smashed in from the edge of the box.
But Wits had the final say when Faty sprung the off-side trap thanks to a clever ball by Langwe and calmly finished past Gumede, who only seconds earlier produced a stunning block to keep out the wasteful Chapman.
Sibusiso Vilakazi had fired the visitors ahead less than 60 seconds after the interval, before Ryan Chapman wasted a string of chances to close off the win.
And when substitute Lucky Nguzana equalised seven minutes from time, it appeared the hosts had earned a share of the spoils, but Faty had the final say, sending Clive Barker's men soaring to the top half of the log.
Following a slow start to the game, the hosts created the first opening after 10 minutes when Sibusiso Hadebe picked out Bonginkosi Ntuli in the box, with the striker controlling well and forcing Thapelo Mabokgwane into a low save to his left.
Midway through the half, Mzivukile Tom's cross from the left appeared to catch Musa Bilankulu by surprise with the midfielder hurriedly pushing wide.
Wits' best chance finally arrived before the half hour when the outstanding Asive Langwe picked out Chapman unmarked in the centre of the box, but the striker's header was brilliantly tipped over by a sprawling Nkosi Gumede.
Moments later Ntuli blazed over as chances began to come at a quicker rate, before the same Arrows player dragged another attempt wide after skipping away down the right.
On the stroke of half-time, Vilakazi spun away neatly from his marker after being threaded in by a superb Matthew Pattison ball from midfield, only to pull his shot wide at the near post.
Wits then surged ahead straight from the kick-off as Langwe controlled expertly from far out and played in Vilakazi, who lifted the ball beyond a helpless Gumede.
The home team tried to conjure up a response through Bilankulu, but he could only find the side-netting with a shot from wide on the left.
The Students then almost doubled their lead when a quick counter-attack led to a Chapman shot which was blocked well by Gumede diving to his left.
The lively Chapman continued to pose problems in the final third, and after stroking wide from inside the box, he tested Gumede with another clever first-time header and also put another over the top.
Wits were made to pay for those misses as Nguzana drew level seven minutes from time when he smashed in from the edge of the box.
But Wits had the final say when Faty sprung the off-side trap thanks to a clever ball by Langwe and calmly finished past Gumede, who only seconds earlier produced a stunning block to keep out the wasteful Chapman.
