Adelaide United Women has avoided the wooden spoon after a 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets Women at Marden Sports Complex on Thursday night.
The returning pair of Captain, Amber Brooks and Mallory Weber, proved decisive with the duo both etching their names on the scoresheet in the final game of the season.
Brooks opened the scoring from the penalty spot to bag her maiden Westfield W-League goal in the first-half before it was cancelled out by a Teigan Collister volley.
However, Weber’s incisive finish in the 61st minute settled the contest as United notched their second win of the season to usurp the Jets into eighth place on goal difference.
Ivan Karlović welcomed back Brooks and Weber and the two changes to his starting line-up, patently made a substantial difference. Lais Araujo was deployed further forward in her more natural attacking midfield role, while Charlotte Grant shifted from the wing into right-back.
Adelaide made a strong start to the game keeping possession of the ball and controlling the tempo in midfield.
After both sides exchanged half chances, it was the Reds who struck first from the penalty spot.
Chelsie Dawber was clattered into from behind and Brooks stepped up and confidently dispatched her effort to open her account in Red on 24 minutes.
Dawber came agonisingly close to doubling the lead had it not been for a stellar, low save by Claire Coehlo, tipping her volley from Charlotte Grant’s cross around the post.
But in the 37th minute, parity was restored after Collister capitalised on Willacy’s partial punch from a crossing set-piece to volley home at the back post.
Adelaide threatened early into the second-half through Weber, seeing two long-range attempts sail wide.
But the United States forward marked her return with a brilliant finish, placing her effort into the bottom corner after latching on to Dylan Holmes’ flicked header.
The Reds held on for the win and were rarely troubled in the final stages.
Key moments:
24’ | GOAL! Brooks expertly converts her penalty, sending her shot into the bottom right corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6136392130001
37’ | GOAL: Collister is left unmarked to volley home a crossing free-kick, despite Willacy managing to get a glove on it.
61’ | GOAL! Holmes’ flick on falls to Weber inside the box, who controls and finishes in clinical fashion.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6136407392001
Match details:
Thursday, 27 February 2020
Westfield W-League 2019/20 Season – Round 14
Adelaide United Women 2 (Brooks (p) 24’ Weber 61’)
Newcastle Jets Women 1 (Collister 37’)
Venue: Marden Sports Complex
Attendance: 832
