A hat-trick from striker Thabo Mnyamane saw NWU cruise to an emphatic 6-1 victory over UFS in Mafikeng.
The win saw NWU keep their spot at the top of the Varsity Football standings at the end of the second round of action.
The home side made an explosive start with the prolific Mnyamane keeping his cool to beat the goalkeeper after just three minutes.
After getting the ball at the top of the box from the imposing Otlaarongwa Rantese, Mnyamane needed no second invitation to fire home his third goal of the competition and hand his team a 1-0 lead.
NWU kept the pressure on, stretching the UFS defence regularly much to the delight of the packed crowd in Mafikeng, and it was not long before Sylvester Moses blasted a low free-kick into the back of the net to double their lead.
To their credit UFS fought hard, but they were left reeling when Mnyamane latched onto a long ball and toed it past the goalkeeper to notch his second goal of the night and his fourth of the competition.
At 3-0 down UFS had no option but to attack, and they were duly punished when Rantese used his physicality well to hold up a long ball before putting it past the goalkeeper to stretch the lead to 4-0 after just half an hour.
The Free State side managed to pull one back before half-time when Thato Skaut got on the end of a free kick to beat NWU goalkeeper Calvin Ntshudisane for the first time in the competition which made it 4-1 at the break.
NWU continued to dominate at the start of the second half, with UFS forced to defend like Trojans and rely on counter-attacking opportunities.
The visitors refused to give in and managed to manufacture a few good chances, but it was the home side who were celebrating next when Mnyamane made it a hat-trick by tucking a penalty away after a reckless challenge from UFS defender Sibusiso Khumalo.
NWU continued to please the crowd, with another stinging shpt from Mnyamane tipped away by the UFS goalkeeper before Ryan van der Westhuizen put the finishing touch on the victory with a rasping shot from the top of the box which whistled past the goalkeeper to make the final score 6-1.
FNB man of the match: Thabo Mnyamane
The scorers:
For NWU: Thabo Mnyamane 3, Sylvester Moses, Otlaarongwa Rantese, Ryan van der Westhuizen
For UFS: Thato Skaut
NWU: 16 Calvin Ntshudisane, 7 Sipho Mateis, 21 Junior Leeuw, 5 Kyle Amon, 13 Zakhele Mashiyi, 9 Otlaarongwa Rantese, 8 Shane April, 15 Matsobane Matsi, 6 Luthando Ntokwenzani, 4 Xola Mlambo, 10 Thabo Mnyamane.
Reserves: 91 Xolani Mtshali, 3 Kenneth Bodibe, 20 Sylvester Moses, 24 Lebogang Phetlu, 17 Sandile Mbatha, 11 Harold Manthatha, 14 Ryan van der Westhuizen.
UFS: 16 Serasengoe Moodie, 2 Lehlohonolo Ramolebo, 3 Unathi Mabandla, 4 Thato Skaut, 19 Sibusiso Khumalo, 20 Khotso Tjemolane, 6 Manxubandile Bantshi, 7 Motsamai Phori, 8 Ricco Sutil, 11 Simon Modupi, 10 Tshepo Sefatsa.
Reserves: 1 Malefane Mokhachane, 5 Mpuang Thuso, 15 Themba Zimo, 22 Christopher Makgoe, 9 Jay Jay Groenewald, 13 Marothodi Phillies, 18 Ernest Mohloki.
