Paulse teaches students a lesson

Ajax Cape Town moved to the top of the Absa Premiership standings after beating Bidvest Wits 3-1 at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday night.

Urban Warriors striker Nathan Paulse got a late brace before teammate Keagan Dolly found the net, while Sthembiso Ngcobo was on target for the Students in the Mother City.

The first stanza belonged to Ajax, and it was only thanks to some brave defending from Onismor Bhasera that the score remained 0-0 after the Zimbabwean blocked Tashreeq Morris’s shot on the line after 13 minutes.

The lively Dolly was determined to get his name on the score-sheet, but was unable to get a curling shot from out on the right flank on target in the 20th minute.

As the game neared the half-hour mark, Ajax were becoming increasingly rampant, but could just not finish off their chances.

This was demonstrated by Thabiso Nkoana, who failed to pick out an unmarked Paulse at the back post, instead shooting tamely into the hands of Clever Boys shot-stopper Jackson Mabokgwane.

The home side began the second half on the front foot, and had a great chance just two minutes after the restart, but Morris fired his volley over the bar from close range.

The visiting side however were always looking to snatch a half chance, and were close to netting in the 57th minute, but Kees Kwakman had his close-range header saved by Anssi Jaakkola.

The deadlock was broken 13 minutes before the final whistle, when Paulse used his height to beat Mabokgwane to Dolly’s free-kick, his header going into an empty net.

Gavin Hunt’s side, though, hit back within three minutes when substitute Ngcobo took advantage of some hesitant defending to hit a volley in off the upright.

However, the Urban Warriors were back in front in the 84th minute when Paulse calmly slotted home a spot kick after Thulani Hlatshwayo’s handball in the Wits box.

The victory was sealed in the 90th minute when Ajax caught the Students on the counter-attack, Dolly strolling through unchallenged to curl the ball beyond Mabokgwane to complete a memorable evening for the Cape side.