Wits have to settle for draw

Bidvest Wits blew a 2-0 cushion and had to settle for a 2-2 Absa Premiership draw against Lamontville Golden Arrows at Bidvest Stadium on Wednesday night.

Wits, under the ultimate master at grinding out a result in Gavin Hunt, have let a few slip of late.

They had a 1-0 lead against Bloemfontein Celtic at Bidvest on November 10, then conceded defeat as Tshegofatso Mabaso scored twice in the last 10 minutes. On Wednesday night Hunt’s team let a two-goal lead slip for a draw.

Simon Murray, with a 14thminute penalty, put Wits ahead and Gift Motupa headed a second in the 28th.

Lively Arrows midfielder Seth Parusnath pulled one back in the 49th, and substitute Wayde Jooste equalised from the penalty spot.

Wits, as ever structured and enterprising, had a plan in the first half, and things went to it.

The Clever Boys’ movement was effective and they exploited the gaps behind the wing-backs (Siboniso Conco and Divine Lunga) in Arrows’ 3-5-2.

Wits earned a penalty when Thabang Monare’s chip into the area hit the arm of Lunga, referee Abongile Tom pointing to the spot. Simon Murray slotted low and to the left of Maximilian Mbaeva.

They doubled the score in double the minutes. Motupa, with a bullish run, got in ahead of centreback Nkosinathi Sibisi to head past Mbaeva.

Arrows almost struck back just after the restart. Seth Parusnath’s cross found central defender Nkanyiso Mngwengwe for a sharp header, kept out by a diving save from Darren Keet.

Arrows brought on Wayde Jooste at right wing-back for Conco following the break. Soon Jooste’s cross found Lamola to bulldoze in for the header, straight at Keet.

Within moments Arrows had pulled a goal back. From a ball out from Mbaeva, Knox Mutizwa turned a defender and fed Lamola through one-on-one with Keet, who slid a pass to Parusnath to finish into an open goal.

Arrows youth product Parusnath then set up the equalising penalty just after the hour.

Wits substitute Lehlohonolo Nonyane, on for Hotto in the 56th, won the ball from the Arrows midfielder, did not clear, lost it again, and had to foul Parusnath nside the box, as Tom awarded the second spotkick of the night. Jooste struck hard to the right of Keet.

● Amazulu comfortably defeated Bloemfontein Celtic 3-0.

The Clever Boys’ movement was effective and they exploited the gaps behind the wing-backs