Football: Phoenix forcing their way into title mix

The Wellington Phoenix are firmly in with a chance of claiming their first A-League title this season. Photo / Getty Images.

The Wellington Phoenix are firmly in with a chance of claiming their first A-League title this season.

With seven rounds to go in the regular season, the only Kiwi franchise in the competition are sitting near the pointy end of the table and have just beaten two of the top five sides in their past two outings.

Fresh off their historic 3-2 win over the Victory in Melbourne last Sunday, the Phoenix disposed of Adelaide United 2-0 in Lower Hutt last night.

There were dark clouds and spots of rain but the hearty faithful who turned out at the Hutt Recreation Ground were treated to some late delight by the Phoenix.

Goals to Joel Griffiths and Nathan Burns during the final 11 minutes turned a game that was heading towards a stalemate in to an important win for the Phoenix.

Five sides -- Wellington, Perth, Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Adelaide -- have broken clear at the top of the A-League and their positions in the standings will fluctuate during the remainder of the season.

But importantly for the Phoenix, they're in the hunt and the win over Adelaide showed they would be a force in the playoffs.

"It wasn't the best performance but it's the type of performance where you've really got to grind out a result," Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick said. "It's not always about beautiful football."

There was beautiful football in patches, particularly in the dying stages after they'd run Adelaide ragged, but for most of the first half both sides cancelled each other out.

The defence was resolute at both ends with the respective goalkeepers rarely tested.

With time winding down, Griffiths, who was brought to the club for the rest of the season after leaving Newcastle recently, got on the end of a Louis Fenton pass to score.

"That's exactly what he does," Merrick said. "He's very competitive. He doesn't take anything from the opposition defences. He rarely gives the ball away and when the ball's in the box he's in there and that's why he's got a tremendous goal-scoring reputation."

From there it was left to Burns to seal it in the 82nd minute as he headed home his 12th goal of the season thanks to an accurate free kick from the impressive Roly Bonevacia who was one of Wellington's best.

Merrick will have a selection conundrum on his hands when they travel to Perth to meet the Glory next weekend with defender Manny Muscat set to return from suspension.

Fullbacks Michael Boxall and Fenton were solid yesterday but Boxall was nursing a calf complaint and he may make way for Muscat with Fenton reverting to right back after playing on the left against Adelaide.

Wellington's trip to Perth begins a tricky run in to the post-season for the Phoenix who still need to play the Victory again and Sydney FC twice in their final seven matches.

Merrick insists his only concern is that his side finish inside the top six to secure their spot in the playoffs but a top-two finish will privately be the aim to book home advantage for most of the knockout stages.

Based on last night's evidence, they're on the right track.

Wellington Phoenix 2 (Joel Griffiths 79, Nathan Burns 82) Adelaide United 0 halftime: 0-0