Platinum Stars continued their poor start to the 2009/10 Absa Premiership season on Wednesday evening when they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Ajax Cape Town at the Moruleng Stadium.

Ajax, who went into this game without about ten players due to national under-20 duty, suspensions and an assortment of injuries, move a few places up on the log with 15 points and within touching distance of current log-leaders Orlando Pirates.

To add more credit to this victory for coach Muhsin Ertugral and his men, this was their fourth away win of the season and it will serve as a huge motivating factor ahead of their next league game Kaizer Chiefs.

For Stars, they have only won one game after nine rounds with only six points and they will have to get their act together when they host Bloemfontein Celtic in a game they will have to win at all cost to get their campaign back on track.

Just like they have done in the past four games where they have failed to score, Stars looked impressive in their general play only to be let down by their finishing, which will leave Komphela asking himself what more does he needs to do for his attackers to find the back of the net.

Early on in the game, Stars attacked inside the opening minute through veteran striker Alton Meiring, who delivered a dangerous cross from the left flank but midfielder Kagiso Senamela, who made a telling run into the Ajax area, blasted his low shot wide off the target in what could have been a dream start for them.

Minutes later, Stars powered another attack into the Ajax danger area but Meiring, who was guilty of missing many more chances during the game, had a low shot that was not strong to trouble Ajax's defence as they cleared with ease in the 17th minute.

With a depleted squad, Ertugral was forced to start this game with five substitutes instead of the usual seven, which included goalkeeper Andre Petim on the bench.

Five minutes before the break, Stars midfielder Thabiso Monareng wasted the game's best opportunity when he blasted his shot over the cross-bar from an inviting position after Ajax failed to clear the danger convincingly.

Ajax also had their moments on the attack in this game but they could not beat Stars goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands until Botswana international Dipsy Selolwane finally scored the winner in the 76th minute with a close range shot.

In the closing stages, Stars threw everything they had at Ajax but they could not find the equaliser and Komphela faces an uphill battle to motivate his players in their next few games as they will going all out to get their wrecked campaign back on track.

Platinum Stars: (4-4-2) Sandilands; Thebakeng, Williams, Tshabalala, Ntwagae; Malongoane, Kgatla, Senamela, Ramokala; Meiring (Marumo 70?), Monareng (Coetzee 60?)

Ajax Cape Town: (4-4-2) Vonk; Allie, Jenniker, Daniels, Decamps; Alexander (Diallo 46?), Davids, Selolwane, Scott (Fofana 58?); Sibisi, Vilakazi (Ngobeni 68?)