Adelaide United’s super start to the Liberty A-League Women’s season continued in Wellington, where the Reds claimed out a 1-0 win over the Phoenix.
Mackenzie Barry’s own goal after 21 minutes settled the contest, with Adelaide worthy winners despite a lack of clear-cut chances at Sky Stadium on Saturday.
It was scrappy stuff but enough to put Adelaide on top of the A-League Women’s table, at least until Saturday’s other matches were competed.
A slippery surface at Sky Stadium, which hosted thousands at a Guns N’ Roses concert less than 48 hours earlier, meant the hitout was not a classic.
Unfortunately for Barry, her attempted clearance from Chelsea Dawber’s centre sliced past Brianna Edwards for the game’s only goal.
The game opened up late as Wellington chased their first point of the season, with Edwards on hand to keep the Phoenix in it.
When Dawber’s through-ball sent Paige Hayward’s clear, Edwards produced a smart save from the one-on-one to keep the match in the balance.
Unfortunately for the winless Nix, they produced just six shots all match to Adelaide’s 17, and were particularly toothless in the second half.
They stay rooted to the foot of the league, while Adelaide go marching on.
Traditionally one of the competition’s weaker sides, the Reds under Adrian Stenta look like finalists for a second-straight campaign.
In five matches to date they’ve won four, all with clean sheets, including a first-up win against powerhouses Sydney FC.
Adelaide’s only loss was to Western United, a 2-1 defeat when they conceded in the 91st and 97th minute.
