The Clever Boys stutter in Rustenburg

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Saturday May 12, 2018. 17:27

Bidvest Wits were beaten 1-0 by the relegated Platinum Stars in their final Absa Premiership tie at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Bonginkosi Ntuli netted for the hosts to ensure they finished their dismal campaign with a win.

The visitors failed to qualify for next season's MTN8 competition and now sit 12th on the log with 36 points.

Stars came out to fight for their dignity and took the game to their visitors and Ntuli saw his shot going wide in the seventh minute.

Dikwena opened the scoreing after the 15th minute when Ntuli took the lead with a fine finish, beating Darren Keet.

With six minutes to the interval, the Clever Boys fought back and a great ball from Vincent Pule found Lehlohonolo Majoro whose header went over the cross bar.

Roger De Sa’s men controlled the proceedings and held on to their lead and were in the ascendancy at half time.

The second half saw the Braamfontein-based side pushing forward as Gavin Hunt made changes to increase their attacking options.

Substitute Frank Mhango broke free in the final third and caught the hosts’ defence napping, but he skewed his shot in an attempt to beat Dino Visser.

Neither side could produce clear cut chances in front of goal in the dying stages of the tie and Stars claimed all three points.

Despite the win, Dikwena finished last and are heading to the National First Division with 24 points from 30 matches.

Platinum Stars (1) 1 Ntuli 18’)
Bidvest Wits 0

Platinum Stars: Visser, Mkhabela, Mnguni, Mthethwa, Mpeta, Baloyi (Gome 66’), De Jongh, Mekoa, Tshabangu, Norodien, Ntuli

Bidvest Wits: Keet, Allie, Hlatshwayo, Khumalo, Scott, Klate, Monare (Alexander 68’), Pule (Pelembe 46’), Hlanti, Motshwari (Mhango 46’), Majoro