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Cape Town - A brace by Daine Klate and one goal from the enterprising Phakamani Mahlambi gave Bidvest Wits a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Lamontville Golden Arrows on Saturday afternoon at Bidvest Stadium.
The Clever Boys are now leading the Absa Premiership table with 26 points from 10 matches, whilst the visitors remain in the seventh spot with 14 points.
The Clever Boys came to the match aiming to continue their winning run and in the early stages of the match Elias Pelembe broke free in the box and took a shot, giving Maxmillian Mbaeva something to work on but the Namibian stood his ground, fisting the ball over the posts for a corner.
After the 20th minute mark, Kudakwashe Mahachi used his pace down the left when he challenged Nazeer Allie but his well-executed effort hit the side of the net, failing to trouble Moeneeb Josephs.
As the game gained momentum, Mahlambi was denied by the Namibian keeper in the 23rd minute as the South African U-23 player beat two Arrows defenders using his pace into the box but it was saved for a corner.
Through Mahachi, Arrows took another shot in an aim to find a goal in the 30th minute but his effort went wide of target. A few seconds later, Mbaeva was on his toes once again to deny the Students in a one-on-one situation.
In the 37th minute, Vilakazi managed to beat Mbaeva from a cross on the right but he was adjudged to have come from an offside position.
It was 0-0 at half-time and the Clever Boys looked for an early goal in the second half when Mahlambi was denied by the Namibian international 'keeper.
Despite the hosts showing intentions to get an opener, it was Serame Letsoaka’s charges who grabbed the lead in the 51st minute when Hotto connected with Mahachi’s delivery down the left, his powerful header beat Josephs to his near post.
In the 73rd minute Wits found their equaliser through Mahlambi, but Mabhudi Khenyeza soon put the visitors ahead when he finished Andile Fikizolo’s cross, passing the ball into an empty net in the 76th minute.
In the last 10 minutes, Mbaeva came out of his posts to deny Mahlambi but he was unfortunately red carded for catching the ball away from the 18-yard area.
The set piece was taken by Klate in the 84th minute and he delivered his trademark left footed curler which beat the substitute Ricardo Goss.
A minute later, Arrows failed to deal with a cross from the left and Klate completed his brace as he sneaked in to beat Goss for the second time.
Arrows tried to throw everything at Wits but Josephs stood his ground, denying the Lamontville-based side as they walked away with the three points.
