Four seasons ago, a remarkable streak saw the Baby Wolves move from the lower echelons of the Sasol League to the very top.

It took 21 consecutive victories in the country’s second-tier competition to qualify for the national playoffs, via the coastal stream and provincial playoffs, and lift the trophy.

That was the University of Fort Hare’s golden ticket into the 2024 Hollywoodbets Super League, where they finished ninth and in the top half of the draw.

Last year they rose to fourth overall, and this season they are in the hunt for top honours in their stream.

The top four in each of the Super Rise and Super Era sections are expected to qualify for the top tier of the new-look, two-division Super League in 2027.

Bolstered by a fifth consecutive win on Sunday, the Wolves are now just one point shy of frontrunners JVW FC.

Head coach Simphiwe Mafene will surely be forgiven if he thinks his team are in the pound seats with only four matches of the regular season left.

JVW’s failure to take full points off First Touch in their corresponding fixture played into the hands of the Wolves, who defeated Ezemvelo FC 2-1 in Bloemfontein.

Kesha Hendricks was the sharpshooter, banishing two well-directed crosses into the back of the net.

Her brace brings her season tally to six, making her the second most successful striker across both streams.

The first came after Ezemvelo fumbled in the 20th minute.

The loose ball was played in from the right across the face of the goal, with Hendricks sliding in at the left post to knock it in.

While the Wolves appeared in control in the first half, a momentary lapse of focus 42 minutes in gifted their opponents an unexpected equaliser.

Despite Fort Hare ’keeper Dikgopa Mosima pulling off a magnificent save, she was unable to stop Ayanda Makhaza’s well-weighted follow-up shot.

Nervous moments followed for the Alice women as they headed into the final quarter.

Neither a draw, which would have meant a share of the points, nor a loss would have been the ideal ending for this chapter of their campaign.

Victory is the only currency that counts right now if they have any designs on topping the table in just over a month from now.

Any anxiety floating around the park disappeared after the team rallied to piece together a stunning winner in the 77th minute.

Fort Hare were handed a free kick on the right edge of the box and, as so often this season, Rennika Khoza swung in a beauty to beat the four-woman wall.

Hendricks, among the quickest in the league, easily got in front of the defence and powered home a header that delivered the payday they had been after.

That was effectively the ball game as the back three successfully snuffed out any further Ezemvelo attacks.

Fort Hare’s rise to headline status in South African women’s football is a testament to the university’s support structures.

Their final four matches will determine whether the story will have a fairytale ending.

Sunday’s clash against JVW is arguably the most important, as it may offer the best clue yet as to who will end up relegated to a mere footnote at the bitter end.