Adelaide United celebrated their first ever Ninja A-League win over Central Coast Mariners after prevailing 1-0 on Saturday.
Emily Hodgson’s first goal in eight years guided the visiting Reds to a break-through victory against the Mariners having lost all five previous meetings.
It was the first time Hodgson had found the back of the net since the 24-year-old defender scored in Adelaide’s win over Sydney FC in 2017.
With the three points at Woy Woy Stadium, Adelaide leapfrogged Central Coast into fourth position as the Mariners dropped out of the top six and into seventh spot in Round 10.
Adelaide entered the contest having never beaten the Mariners in the Ninja A-League. In the five previous meetings, Central Coast had won all five – keeping four clean sheets and scoring 18 goals.
But the Reds were a team on a mission in Woy Woy, where Hodgson’s drought-ending ninth-minute opener gave the visitors the lead.
Brooke Nunn nearly restored parity of the Mariners but her 13th-minute strike was kept out by the diving Claudia Jenkins.
Adelaide had a golden opportunity to double their lead in the 41st minute but Fiona Worts was brilliantly denied by Newcastle goalkeepers Sarah Langman in a one-on-one situation.
Sarah Rowe nearly had her first Mariners goal after a great solo run into the box, forcing a low diving save from Jenkins approaching the hour mark.
Central Coast had another great chance to restore parity 17 minutes from the end but Annabel Martin headed over from close range.
