Pule’s late show gives Wits draw

PROFLIGATE: GAVIN HUNT’S MEN MISS SEVERAL CHANCES

Jonty Mark

Astoppage-time strike from Vincent Pule enabled Bidvest Wits to inch closer to a top eight finish yesterday, despite a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Polokwane City.

Pule fired home after Wits had wasted numerous chances in normal time, and Thapelo Tshilo’s header had looked like giving Rise and Shine a vital win in their battle against relegation.

As it is Bernard Molekwa’s side are three points clear of 15thplaced Ajax Cape Town, with three games left in the season.

Gavin Hunt’s Wits, meanwhile, stay 10th, just a point behind Bloemfontein Celtic in eighth.

Wits opened the brighter of the two sides, and might have gone in front as early as the 12th minute, when a cross found its way through a crowded penalty area all the way to Pule at the far post. George Chigova, however, was smartly off his line to block the young Wits forward’s effort.

Chigova was then injured in a clash with Wits striker James Keene, and while he tried to carry on initially, the City keeper was eventually replaced in the 33rd minute by Harold Ndlovu, making his first league appearance since the end of September.

Four minutes later, Wits should have gone in front as Majoro found himself in acres of space inside the area, but his shot was cleared off the line.

City were not really in the game for most of the half, but should have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time, as Rodney Ramagalela went through but inexplicably shot wide with the goal gaping.

City went in front in the 52nd minute, Tshilo heading in from Jabu Maluleke’s well-taken freekick.

But Wits equalised in stoppage time as Sifiso Hlanti swung in a cross from deep on the left and Pule smashed the ball into the back of the net.