Adelaide United bounced back to winning form in the A-League Women, grinding their way to a 1-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers.
A week after the Reds were shocked by two stoppage-time goals from Western United, Chelsie Dawber’s early penalty proved the difference in hot conditions at Wanderers Football Park on Sunday.
The result gave the Reds a third straight win over the Wanderers for the first time in their history.
Western Sydney were left to rue several wasted good set piece chances while Adelaide’s Paige Hayward and gun forward Fiona Worts went close to scoring on several occasions.
It took just seven minutes for Adelaide to draw first blood via the penalty spot.
Wanderers skipper Clare Hunt collided with an advancing Dawber and was quickly pulled up.
Dawber coolly drilled the penalty into the bottom right corner.
In the 17th minute, Western Sydney’s Bethany Gordon had a great opportunity to equalise when she met Amy Harrison’s well-placed free-kick, but put her header over the bar.
In the 39th minute, Dawber and Worts combined and Emilia Murray just dragged her shot wide
Two minutes later, Western Sydney’s Holly Caspers headed over the bar.
Early in the second half, Dawber’s ball into the box skidded past all comers to Hayward, who blasted off target, while Worts dragged another shot wide in the 56th minute.
Adelaide had a case for a handball penalty against Hunt in the 61st minute but didn’t receive a spot-kick.
Wanderers midfielder Olivia Price required treatment in the 68th after copping a shoulder charge challenge from Jenna McCormick, with the Adelaide centre-back receiving a yellow card while Price had to be substituted.
There was late drama when Wanderers substitute Sheridan Gallagher and Dawber tangled for the ball, before Gallagher flung the Adelaide striker to the ground.
Gallagher earned a yellow card but the Reds couldn’t add to their tally with the late free-kick.
