A first half goal from Vincent Pule handed Bidvest Wits a 1-0 win over Baroka FC in an Absa Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Clever Boys controlled the flow of play from the first whistle and starved Baroka of the ball.

Still, despite their domination Wits struggled to create any significant goal scoring chances early on.

The only real chance came around the 15th minute mark when Amr Gamal worked himself into space 20-yards out, but his stinging shot went narrowly wide of the target.

Baroka struggled to find their rhythm and were punished in the 43rd minute after a mistake in defence allowed Vincent Pule to tap home from close range to hand Wits a 1-0 lead at halftime.

The second half saw Wits continue to have the lion’s share of possession, but they struggled to really make it count.

The Clever Boys pushed forward time and again, but they were thwarted at every point by a stubborn Baroka defence.

Substitute Granwald Scott had the only significant shot of the second half, but his 30-yard thunderbolt went inches over the target in the 80th minute

Baroka pushed forward in the final minutes of the game in the hope of snatching a late equaliser, but they had no luck and suffered their first Absa Premiership loss of the season.

Despite the loss Baroka still sit at the top of the league table with 16 points, one point above Golden Arrows.

Baroka FC (0) 0

Bidvest Wits (1) 1 (Pule 43’)

Teams

Baroka FC: 16. Vries, 6. Shaku, 11. Matloga, 7. Chawapihwa (9. Nguzana 77’), 24. Banda, 21. Moeti, 31. Masenamela, 15. Mothupa, 4. Madubanya, 8. Mdantsane (17. Nglande 55’), 19. Macha (12. Motupa 8’).

Bidvest Wits: 36. Peters, 2. Allie, 3. Hlatshwayo, 4. Khumalo, 7. Klate, 8. Monare [14. Claasen 46’ (6. Scott 70’)], 10. Gamal (9. Rodgers 83’), 11. Pelembe, 12. Pule, 13. Hlanti, 19. Mlambo.