Ladder leaders Adelaide United Youth Reserves will look to consolidate first place when they meet Adelaide Olympic for the second time in three days.
Adelaide progressed to the semi-finals of the FFSA Federation Cup after a comprehensive 3-0 win against the same opposition on Wednesday night and encounter again on Saturday.
The Young Reds inflicted a 4-0 loss on Raiders last time out, and Head Coach, Adrian Stenta said it was probably his side’s most complete performance for the season so far.
“I was very happy with the performance because it was probably the closest we’ve been to playing the full ninety minutes,” Stenta said.
“So right from the beginning all the way through to the game I thought the boys were in control, played very well at a very high level for large parts of the game.
“It was just good to see them able to put together a complete match so it was fantastic.”
That result extended Adelaide’s winning streak to three matches in the league, and have further collected maximum points in five of their last six games.
They also moved three points clear at the summit of the table following West Adelaide’s setback last weekend.
Stenta attributed their rousing form to hard work and the players absorbing all the information imparted to them.
“Just the hard work that the boys have been putting in at training,” he explained.
“Also listening and taking on our feedback and our messages and really trying to put them into action.
“And that’s been evident in the last few games, because our first twenty or thirty minutes of the last few games have been very strong.
“We’ve started very well, we’ve managed to get on top and then we’re a hard side to beat when we’re up and running.
“So just really impressed with the boys’ hard work and their ability to listen to what we want and to put that into action.”
Olympic succumbed to a 9-1 rout at the hands of South Adelaide last time out in the league are winless in their past five games.
Stenta was adamant complacency will not be an issue.
“We never take any opponent lightly,” he stated.
“Any time a team that comes out and loses the week before, regardless of the score, you’d expect them to come out really strong and with a strong reaction in the next game.
“We’ll be prepared for that, we’ll be focussing on ourselves and just making sure we can start strongly again which has been a feature of our recent matches.”
Adelaide United Youth face Adelaide Olympic in Round 12 of the National Premier League 2019 season on Saturday, 1 June at VALO Football Centre – The Parks. Kick-off is at 7.00 PM. Reserves kick-off at 4.45pm.
