Goals in each half from Ntlantla Zothwane and Bongi Ntuli helped Golden Arrows secure a 2-0 Premiership victory over Ajax Cape Town at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, outside Durban, on Sunday afternoon.

The opening goal came after 35 minutes when midfielder Zothwane headed in a perfectly-weighted Mzuvukile Tom cross from the left, before forward Ntuli sealed the win with a smart close-range finish deep into stoppage time.

The Urban Warriors, who were denied several times by home goalkeeper Pavels Steinbors, came closest to scoring when substitute Koen van de Laak struck the upright just after the hour mark.

They failed to take any of their other openings and slipped to an eight loss of the season that saw them slip to 13th place, now behind Arrows after the hosts moved up to 11th.

Jan Pruijn's men made the stronger start to the game and could have been ahead in the third minute after Khama Billiat was played in by Bradley Grobler, but the Zimbabwean bent his attempt just wide of the far post.

Just before the 20-minute mark, the Abafana Bes'thende defence was slashed open again, this time by Toriq Losper's exquisite right-sided cross that sat tantalisingly for Grobler to head powerfully, but Steinbors did well to palm over.

Grobler had another decent attempt with his head after half-an-hour only to nod wide after a good corner by Billiat as the visitors continued to look more dangerous in the final third.

But they were hit with a sucker punch 10 minutes before the interval when Mzuvukile Tom was sent away down the left and the fullback swung in a superb cross that was headed home by Zothwane from close-range.

The Arrows midfielder had another headed chance before the half-time whistle, although he failed to find the target this time.

After the restart, Musa Bilankulu should have done better than heading wide from a corner, before another great opening for Ajax came when Losper drove through the middle and bent his shot towards the corner.

Again, though, Steinbors stretched to turn away for a corner.

Van de Laak was then introduced and the Dutchman made an immediate impact.

First he shot over after cutting through on the left, before creating space for himself on the right and arrowing a powerful low shot that came back off the left upright.

At the other end, Zothwane had the chance to seal the win, but smashed just over on the half-volley, while Steinbors again denied Ajax when he tipped over Losper's long-range header that was dipping in.

Ntuli had another chance to wrap up the points with 12 minutes to go when he stabbed wide and substitute Dillon Sheppard came even closer by curling against the crossbar from 25 yards out.

Four minutes into injury time, Manqoba Mangqithi's team sealed the win when Luyolo Mapolisa shrugged of two men, cutting in from the left and played in Ntuli, who spun and shot beyond a helpless Sean Roberts.