Ajax Cape Town were pushed all the way by a gutsy Black Aces side before coming away 2-1 victors in their Absa premiership match at Athlone on Sunday.
The Witbank side were very much in the game during the first 20 minutes and could even have been ahead if they had been more potent in front of goal.
A fantastic chance came to nothing when in the 18th minute David Mathebula's skill and vision set Myrone Shongwe through on goal, but his attempt to beat Hans Vonk was weak.
Lindokhule Mbatha then also had a decent opportunity, but failed to get a clean connection on his shot. As the game wore on, the Ajax front men took advantage of the lack of cohesion in the centre of the Aces' defence, with Seydouba Soumah, Khama Billiat and Thulani Serero all giving AmaZayoni ongoing problems.
It was the Billiat - Soumah combination which lead to the opening goal on 28 minutes when Soumah was put through on goal by the young Zimbabwean, doing well to steer the ball around the advancing Denis Onyango.
Soumah thought he had a second goal just a minute later, but his celebrations were cut short by a debatable off-side call.
The second half saw Aces coming out firing on all cylinders as they kept the Urban Warriors' penned back in their own half with attack after attack.
Gordon Gilbert nearly levelled the scores in the 50th minute with a herder against the bar and then Shongwe headed wide before Joseph Henyekane tested Hans Vonk with a swerving free kick.
There were a couple more half chances for Aces, but things just wouldn't fall for them in front of goal.
Instead, it was Ajax who scored in the 72nd minute as Serero sprinted into the box where he latched onto Lebo Manyama's through ball and finished with a blistering drive at the near post.
The Ajax striker could have added another goal two minutes later, but Onyango made a brave save at his feet.
AmaZayoni pulled a late goal back when Gilbert headed home Shongwe's back-post cross in the 89th minute, but Ajax didn't have too many problems hanging on the points which sends them up to second place on the standings. - Sapa