Adrian Stenta says Adelaide United's attacking depth makes them "a bit of a nightmare" for opposing teams in the A-League Women. The Reds extended their unbeaten run to 11 games following yesterday's 1-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners.
Adelaide United celebrate Erin Healy's match-winning goal against the Central Coast Mariners. (Image: Ken Carter)
In the wake of a narrow win over top-six hopefuls, the Central Coast Mariners, Adelaide United head coach Adrian Stenta stated that his team's attacking depth makes them a difficult test for any opponent in the A-League Women.
Against the Mariners, a first-half arm wrestle saw both sides go into half-time deadlocked at 0-0, but not without big chances. Peta Trimis failed to sufficiently connect with the ball on what could have been a routine finish just 90 seconds into the game before Sarah Langman denied Chelsie Dawber from close range in the 36th minute.
After the interval, the game became more transitional. Spaces opened up, particularly once star Reds import Erin Healy combined brilliantly with Dawber to put the hosts ahead in the 50th minute before former Red Shadeene Evans received a second yellow and subsequent red for a late lunging challenge on Emily Hodgson.
Adelaide could have ended the game in the ten minutes following the red card. But they left the door open for the Mariners, who rallied late despite being down to 10 players. The away side created multiple dangerous chances in the final 20 minutes and arguably deserved a point.
But Claudia Jenkins' five saves ensured she kept a seventh clean sheet in 2024/25 and a second in four games, a welcome sight after the Reds failed to shut out their opponents in the five games preceding that stretch.
Speaking post-game, Stenta understands that sometimes his side will need to dig deep for three points.
"I thought first half we played some positive football, and there was a couple of moments where we could have broken it open a bit, but just weren't able to take our chances or make the most of what we created," he said.
"And then, yeah, the second half became a bit of a struggle and a bit of a grind, and gave up a few chances as well, but to really guts it out and keep a clean sheet, and moment of quality for our goal as well, sometimes it's what you need to win a game."
The match-winning goal certainly was top quality. Ella Tonkin started the move by winning the ball back before Healy played the ball into Dawber's feet and continued her run into the box. The pass from the latter back to the former was so well placed between two Mariners defenders that it caused them to run into each other, with Healy eventually bypassing Annabel Martin before scoring past Langman.
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With Adelaide without Fiona Worts yesterday, who has netted seven times this season, scoring should be more challenging. But the beauty of this Reds side is their depth in the final third, with Dawber and Healy again proving they are more than capable of finding their attacking groove in the absence of their English teammate.
In fact, across three games Worts missed in January against Brisbane Roar, Western United, and Sydney FC, Dawber and Healy netted five goals as a duo.
"We got (Emily) Condon as well, and we've got some other quality attackers in our squad as well, and sometimes a player like LucÃa (León) pops up and scores a couple as well," Stenta said when asked about his side's attacking depth.
"I think we're really dangerous. I think we're a very dangerous side; I've said that to the team. I think we can score goals in a number of ways. I think, if you're playing against us, it's a bit of a nightmare to try and contain us going forward, and as long as we're strong defensively and with our defensive action, I think we can be more than a handful for any team."
Stenta's Reds will be looking to be a handful again next up in what is arguably the toughest test of their season so far. Next Sunday, they will face a Melbourne City side away from home who is still undefeated this season and has an eye on the premiership.
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