Ajax secures first win of season

The game was however finally put to bed by the hosts in the 81st minute when Billiat showed good composure to curl the ball past keeper Jackson Mpontshane after finding himself unmarked in the Stars box.

The game was however finally put to bed by the hosts in the 81st minute when Billiat showed good composure to curl the ball past keeper Jackson Mpontshane after finding himself unmarked in the Stars box.

Published Sep 1, 2012

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Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town secured their first win of the season, a much needed 4-1 victory over Platinum Stars at a cold and rainy Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.

In a week in which the team sold striker Terror Fanteni to Bidvest Wits, Ajax showed fluency, pace and imagination in attack, although their cause was aided by some sloppy defending on occasion from the North West outfit.

Bradley Grobler grabbed a brace with Keegan Dolly and Khama Billiat also on the score-sheets for the hosts. Patrick Malokse scored Dikwena's only goal, from the penalty spot.

Ajax took the lead after just eight minutes when the ball broke kindly to Dolly on the edge of the box, with the youngster showing superb composure to find the bottom corner of the net with his left foot.

Five minutes later some scintillating interplay by the home side saw Khama Billiat passing to Koen van den Laak, who played in Grobler on goal, but the former Stars player's finish lacked power and precision.

The likes of Van den Laak and Dolly continued to enjoy some creative moments in attack, and combined to set up Grobler again in the 25th minute, but the parting shot lacked power.

Stars had begun to look dangerous going forward and nearly pulled a goal back in the 26th minute when Shaun Roberts did well to palm away Thuso Phala's powerful strike.

Two minutes later the contest was even again when Stars striker Malokase netted with a penalty, the spot kick having been awarded after Thulani Hlatshwayo had handled the ball inside his own box.

However, the Urban Warriors were soon back in the lead when Grobler bundled home a 36th minute shot from 12-yards, after the Dikwena defence had made a real mess of dealing with Van den Laak's cross.

The Cape side needed a third goal and the wait wasn't long, Grobler getting his brace in the 48th minute as he netted from close range after a cross by Dolly.

The visiting team attempted to play themselves back into the game, but appeared out of sorts in the final third of the field and could not trouble Mathew Booth and co.

At the other end of the field, with the pace of Dolly and Billiat, and the predatory instincts of Grobler, the hosts always posed questions when going forward.

With 10 minutes to go Roberts was forced to make an important save, and it was an outstanding one as he showed great agility to tip Siphelele Mthembu's angled pile-driver over the bar.

The game was however finally put to bed by the hosts in the 81st minute when Billiat showed good composure to curl the ball past keeper Jackson Mpontshane after finding himself unmarked in the Stars box. - Sapa

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