IN CONTROL: Phoenix midfielder Michael McGlinchey evades Adelaide United defenders Isaias and Tarek Elrich during the Wellington sides 2-0 victory at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

The Wellington Phoenix have jumped to the top of the A-League ladder with a 2-0 win over Adelaide United at the Hutt Recreation Ground on Saturday.

It appeared the Phoenix were headed for their third consecutive draw at their temporary home until a dramatic four-minute burst between the 79th and 82nd minutes.

Substitute striker Joel Griffiths, playing his first home game in Phoenix colours, broke the deadlock by tucking away a Louis Fenton cross, then leading goalscorer Nathan Burns stunned the visitors by heading in unmarked from a Roly Bonevacia free kick.

The Phoenix's hold on top spot may well be short-lived, with Perth Glory or Melbourne Victory able to claim pole position when they square off in Saturday night's late game.

But these are heady times for Ernie Merrick's men, claiming two big scalps in two weeks following on from the 3-2 away win over Victory last Sunday.

Merrick has repeatedly played down the chances of the club claiming its first ever championship, stating that the goal was simply to qualify for the top-six finals and that a top-four finish would be a bonus.

But the cat is out of the bag and the Phoenix are now undoubtedly title contenders.

Once again their superior fitness was noticeable as they finished over the top of the Reds in the final 20 minutes.

And their defence was rock solid, led by captain Andrew Durante who had been in doubt to play the game with a calf injury.

But even at less than 100 per cent the centre back was inspirational - reading Adelaide's attacking movements with impeccable timing and keeping the visitors at bay with a desperate sliding block in the dying minutes.

No side has won the A-League from outside the top-two spots and surely that has to be the new goal for the Phoenix as they eye a long trek to tackle the Glory in Perth next Saturday night.

Griffiths, the 35-year-old Newcastle Jets castoff, has proved a canny acquisition and after entering the fray for Roy Krishna on the hour mark, showed his predatory instincts to connect with Fenton's well placed cross.

The first half had been a cagey affair and genuine chances were few and far between as the two sides demonstrated why they have the best defensive records in the competition.

Both teams would have gone top of the table - at least temporarily - with a win and with the stakes so high neither side was willing to take any undue risks.

There was an early scare as Burns crumpled to the ground after copping a ball to the head but the league's second top scorer was able to bounce back to his feet.

Adelaide's Marcelo Carrusca looked the best player on the park in the early going but the Argentine's influence faded in the second half.

In a slightly surprising decision, Merrick plumped for Fenton to replace the suspended Manny Muscat at left back.

But Fenton, back from a fortnight off with concussion, rewarded his faith with an energetic display capped off by the assist for the opening goal.

Burns then clinched it when he was left criminally un-marked from Bonevacia's set-piece, and it was shirts off in the stands from a delirious Yellow Fever.

Wellington Phoenix 2 (Joel Griffiths, Nathan Burns) Adelaide United 0. HT: 0-0