Plaatjies opened his account after just 13 minutes with a superb curling effort before adding a second on 28 minutes with a strong diving header.

He completed his hat-trick with another header on 54 minutes, with both goals coming from pinpoint crosses from Raoul Daniels.

Gavin Hunt's side started positively in front of their home fans, with strong running from the wide areas, although it was through the middle where Plaatjies cut inside his man before unleashing a pinpoint effort into the bottom-right corner of the net, with Gallants goalkeeper Kagiso Mlambo rooted to the spot.

The away side looked to respond, and Samkele Sihlali thought he had won a penalty when he went down in the box on 22 minutes after a challenge from Stellies stopper Sage Stephens, but there were no serious appeals for a spot-kick.

Both sides were playing some frenetic, high-paced football, but it was Hunt's team who made the most of a break down the right flank for their second of the night. Daniels skipped past his man before firing in a pinpoint cross for Plaatjies to head home.

Stellies went close again just moments later after a flowing move that ultimately saw Terrence Mashego's shot from a tight angle deflect into the side netting.

Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo fired wide on the turn as Gallants looked for a way back into the game, while Thapelo Dhludhlu was off target with a wild effort. A long-range effort from Simo Mbhele Luthuli just before the break was never going to trouble Stephens.

There was still time for a stoppage-time corner as Gallants continued to attack, but Stephens calmly collected after a flick at the near post.

Gallants boss Phuti Mohafe had threatened to make changes before the break, but ultimately introduced three players for the second half, with Sibusiso Ncube, Sibusiso Sikhosana and Edgar Manaka brought on for Luthuli, David Lukhele and Sihlali.

But it was the Stellies' supporters who were soon celebrating a memorable moment for debutant teenager Plaatjies, as he headed home his third of the night from another exceptional cross from Daniels.

Stephens had to be alert from the restart as Dhludhlu raced up the right flank and sent in a low cross, before an incorrect offside call stopped Mashego in his tracks as he beat his man and raced towards goal.

Plaatjies was withdrawn in the 66th minute for returning former Stellies DDC player Qobolwakhe Sibande, for possible fatigue rather than injury.

Gopolang Taunyana was well placed to head a goal-bound volley off his goal line from Monde Mpambaniso following a 75th-minute free-kick that Stephens could only parry into the path of the Gallants substitutes.

Tlakusani Mthethwa then had a chance to side-foot home from range with the match winding down after being set up by Butsaka, but Mlambo got his body in front of the ball.

Gallants refused to give up and were eventually rewarded for their efforts in the 81st minute as Dhludhlu smashed home from the edge of the area after Stephens had parried a fierce drive from Ncube into his path.

Bradley Grobler and Genino Palace came on for Matlou and Kwayiba for Stellies in the final few minutes to see out the game, before Manaka had his head in his hands after heading just wide of the right-hand upright from a metre out as the ball dropped to him from a late corner.

Gallants pressed for the final five minutes of injury time, but ultimately it was Hunt who celebrated the win and the introduction of a new young talent, who will savour his first experience of top-flight football.

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