Cape Town - Golden Arrows took a big leap towards securing a top-eight spot as they overcame relegated Platinum Stars 3-2 in an exciting contest at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday.

It was the visitors that started brighter in Durban and they could have hit the front after only nine minutes when Gome managed to get behind the home defence and rattled the post with his shot from the edge of the box, with Maximilian Mbaeva only watching on.

Five minutes later, Mutizwa drew a sharp save out of Mbongeni Mzimela with his effort from the middle of the box after he was picked out by Venter.

Then came the opener and it arrived from a quick throw-in on the right that caught Stars by surprise, with Velemseni Ndwandwe picking out Mutizwa in the middle – the Zimbabwean this time making no mistake with a strong header.

Just before the half hour, Siphelele Magubane led an excellent counter-attack that ended with Venter ballooning over, but the ex-Free State Stars midfielder made no mistake moments later when he was given a few extra seconds by his marker and tucked away Jabulani Shongwe's ball.

There was drama before the interval as first Sithole hit the post with Dikwena unlucky to pull a goal back, before Ndwandwe did the same from the other end, Mzimela's finger also aiding Stars from falling further behind with what proved the final action of the half.

Stars pulled a goal back 13 minutes into the second half, though, as Ntuli's downward header was bundled in by Mkhabela.

After further chances for Mutizwa and Ndwandwe, the former made the game safe in the 80th minute when he tucked away another good ball from the latter.

Sithole did manage to pull another one back for the Rustenburg outfit, but it came in stoppage time when Sithole bundled in as Arrows held on.