The Lady Reds have broken their 34-match winless streak with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Perth Glory.
The Lady Reds have broken their 34-match winless streak with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Perth Glory at Burton Park on Saturday in Week 9 of the Westfield W-League.
The Lady Reds recorded their first win since November 2008 when they defeated Sydney FC 3-2 at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Adelaide United also ended a run of 19 consecutive losses with their last result coming in a 2-2 draw against Brisbane at Ballymore Stadium in November 2009.
Heavy rain started almost immediately after kick off as the City of Churches endured torrential rain for the entire afternoon.
With conditions less than ideal, United kicked with the aide of the strong breeze in the first half and dominated Perth right from the outset.
Donna Cockayne fired an early warning shot from 10 metres that was well saved by Perth keeper Mackenzie Arnold before Lady Reds shot stopper Sian McLaren denied Lara Filocamo from distance.
With Anna Green keen to deliver dangerous balls into the box it was only a matter of time before United broke the deadlock.
Just after the half four, Perth failed to clear a United corner as Leanne Slater won back possession for the Lady Reds.
Ashleigh Gunning whipped in a cross from the right where Katherine Ebbs was on hand to volley into the back of the net from 8 metres for her first WWL goal.
Cockayne and Racheal Quigley were next to test the Glory keeper before striker Marijana Rajcic had Arnold scrambling to keep out her low shot.
The rain continue to thunder down in the second half as Slater fired just over the bar just after the restart.
Just before the hour, Quigley collected the ball on the halfway line and tore through the Perth defence before rattling the cross bar with a rocket from 20 metres.
Rajcic should have doubled United-s lead but skewed her shot from inside the area before a tense final few minutes for Adelaide.
With the rain relentless, surface water made life difficult and Perth almost stole a late equaliser after a goal mouth scramble saw players from both teams diving around in desperation.
The Lady Reds though managed to hold on and lift themselves off the foot of the table and above Perth.
Match Details
Adelaide United 1 (Ebbs)
Perth Glory 0
@ Burton Park
