Golden Arrows put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone with a much-needed 2-0 win away to University of Pretoria at Tuks Stadium on Wednesday night.

Abafana Bes’thende’s Bongani Ntuli scored late in each half, securing his side’s first away win of the season to move to 19 points, a full six clear of Chippa United and AmaZulu, who are locked on 13 apiece at the foot of the Absa Premiership log.

As for AmaTuks, they remain on 23 points and secure in mid-table, but will be concerned that they have won just one of their eight home matches in the league so far this season.

Tuks called Arrows’ Pavel Steinbors into action as early as the second minute, with the goalkeeper forced to parry away a header from Mame Niang after good work to dig out a cross by Dumisani Ngwenya.

On eight minutes the visitors threatened a goal, with Nhlanhla Zothwane picking out Bongani Ntuli with a cross, but the attacker’s header flashed over the crossbar without testing goalkeeper Washington Arubi.

The teams then traded tame long-range shots before Zothwane let fly from 30 yards in the 37th minute and forced Arubi into an excellent save, with the Zimbabwean tipping the ball over the crossbar for a corner kick.

Six minutes later the University side came close to breaking the deadlock through another headed chance for Niang, but the Senegalese’s effort went just wide of the target.

The home side were made to pay for missing their opportunities just before halftime when Ntuli put Abafana Bes’thende ahead. The midfielder scored with a right-footed shot from within the penalty area after some slack defending by Tuks.

Just before the hour mark, AmaTuks looked to bring themselves level through a shot from Thabo Mosadi, but Steinbors did well to punch the well-struck effort away and keep his side in the ascendancy.

The Arrows ‘keeper pulled off another excellent save in the 82nd minute, tipping over a header from Buhle Mkhwanazi that looked destined to find the back of the net. Steinbors’ efforts were not in vain, as Ntuli scored his second in the 89th minute to wrap up the three points for Arrows.

University of Pretoria 0

Tuks: Arubi, Ngubane, Monyai, Matsi (Mutizwa 59’), Mosadi, Ketjijere, Mkhwanazi, Lubelo (Zungu 73’), Ngoma, Niang, Ngwenya (Shitembi 54’)

Arrows: Steinbors, Zwane, Bilankulu (Krjauklis 52’), Sithole, Bovu (Liphoto 79’), Nene, Zothwane, Khuboni, Hadebe (Nzimande 60’), Ntuli, Gabuza