Lamontville Golden Arrows thrashed Stellenbosch FC 3-1 in a DStv Premiership match at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday afternoon.

The win took Abafana Bes'thende to third place on the league standings level on points with second-placed SuperSport United, while Stellies remained 12th on the log.

Although Stellies did most of the attacking in the opening stages of the match, it was Abafana Bes'thende, who broke the deadlock in the 15th minute.

Sibusiso Mthethwa failed to clear the ball away from danger and Pule Mmodi pounced and fired past Sage Stephens in the Stellenbosch goal-posts to make it 1-0 to Arrows.

Stellenbosch had a chance to level matters eight minutes before the half-hour mark, but Stanley Dimgba was denied by Arrows goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana at the near-post

Abafana Bes'thende looked dangerous every time they pushed forward and Knox Mutizwa's shot was cleared off the goal-line by Robyn Johannes on the half-hour mark.

Stephens then pulled off a fine low save to deny Mutizwa in the 31st minute and Mmodi netted from the rebound, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Stellenbosch were then able to contain the visitors and the score was 1-0 to Arrows at the interval.

It took 10 minutes for the visitors to double their lead in the second-half and Mutizwa, who kept the Stellies defence busy in the first-half, was involved.

Mutizwa made a strong run down the hand side with the hosts' defence exposed and he played a low pass for Michael Gumede, who scored to make it 2-0 to Arrows.

Stellenbosch managed to pull one back through Junior Mendieta, who received a pass from Phathutshedzo Nange before beating Mlungwana with a thunderous shot to make it 2-1 in the 62nd minute.

The hosts then pushed for the equalising goal and Leletu Skelem played a defence-splitting pass for Mendieta, but Mlungwana reacted quickly and he came out to gather the ball.

However, Johannes made a mistake at the back as his poor pass was intercepted by Gumede, who then curled the ball past Stephens to make it 3-1 to Arrows with 13 minutes left.

The goal sealed Arrows' 3-1 win over Stellenbosch, who were unable to score in the closing stages of the encounter.

Stellenbosch (0) 1 (Mendieta 62')

Stellenbosch:Stephens, Van Heerden, Johannes, Robertson, Mthethwa (Skelem 40'), Van Rooyen, Sinkala (Scott 80'), Adams (Nange 54'), Du Preez, Dimgba (Moon 54'), Mendieta.

Golden Arrows:Mlungwana, Lunga, Sibisi, Zuke, M. Dube, Phiri (Shitolo 69'), Mtshali (Ndwandwe 61'), Parusnath, Mmodi (Conco 61'), M. Gumede (Sabelo 84'), Mutizwa (Sibiya 68').