Johannesburg – Sibusiso Vilakazi scored his first goals of the season with a well-taken hat-trick to help Wits climb to second place in the Premiership standings with a 4-2 win at home against Ajax Cape Town.
Vilakazi sent Wits into the lead with his first of the 2014/15 campaign after 11 minutes.
Thulani Hlatshwayo doubled the Clever Boys' tally minutes from the half-time whistle for a comfortable lead against an Ajax side unbeaten in their last four matches.
The Urban Warriors pulled one back courtesy of Nazeer Allie's stunner from outside the area, but Vilakazi again found himself in front of goal and duly restored Wits' two-goal cushion 20 minutes from the end.
Noah Sadaoui, in his first ever appearance for Ajax, then scored a late penalty to ensure late drama.
However, Vilakazi had the last say with his third of the evening, ending a worrying drought for the exciting attacking midfielder as the hosts walked away with three valuable points.
The win took Wits to 26 points at the halfway stage of the season, two clear of Mamelodi Sundowns, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Orlando Pirates a few kilometres down the road in Soweto.
With a fourth win in their last five Premiership fixtures, Gavin Hunt's side appear to be back in contention for a top-two finish.
They will have Sundowns, with a game in hand, breathing down their necks as the rest of the league aim to chase down runaway log-leaders Kaizer Chiefs.
Vilakazi had not scored a league goal since April and was made to wait until his 12th appearance of the season to open his account.
Vincent Pule delivered a tricky ball into the area, resulting in a mistake from Musa Lebusa, who tangled with his goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola, allowing last season's Player of the Season to prod home the opener.
Hlatshwayo then got in on the action with a powerful header from Ben Motshwari's corner, sending Hunt's team into the half-time break in front.
Ajax came out looking for a way back into the tie and had Allie to thank as the defender waltzed his way through some ordinary defence before unleashing a thunderous effort from outside the area.
The ball nicked the underside of the bar on the way to beating Moeneeb Josephs, who was largely anonymous up to that point.
In the 71st minute he had the easiest of tap-ins to secure his second of the night after Jabu Shongwe's shot took a deflection and fell kindly for Vilikazi, who found an empty net with Jaakkola completely beaten and out of position.
Siyabonga Nhlapo's handball inside the area again brought hope to Ajax's cause as Sadaoui scored the resulting penalty, sneaking the ball under Josephs and bringing the visitors to within a goal of the leaders.
Vilakazi's class, however, proved to good for the Cape side, scoring his third in the third minute of additional time to round-off a hugely successful night. – Sapa