Veteran striker Carl Veart netted his eighth goal of the season to help Adelaide United shore up fifth spot in the NSL with a 1-0 win over the Football Kingz at Hindmarsh Stadium.

United struggled to break down the more resolute Kingz, coming off a shock win earlier in the week against Wollongong, but the former Socceroo striker found a moment of magic to deliver the vital win in front of 12,312 fans.

He poked the ball home from six metres among a sea of players after a fierce volley by midfielder Ross Aloisi ricocheted off the post into his path in the 58th minute.

Veart managed to kick the ball into an empty net while on the ground after challenging for a high corner by Goran Lozanovski just seconds before, to United's relief.

The Kingz looked like upsetting United with some tough play and speedy striker Noah Hickey messed up two golden chances to score in the second half after clearing the United defence but failing to beat advancing keeper David Scarsella.

Former Leeds defender Danny Hay proved a man mountain to get around, though Adelaide rarely found the right pass to trouble the Kingz until after half-time.

Defender Michael Valkanis had the best chance in the 27th minute when he volleyed wide with just the keeper to beat and Veart went close with a near-post header in the 35th minute.

But Hickey send shudders through United in the 50th minute when he beat the offside trap but volleyed wide with just an advancing Scarsella out of position.

He only fired tamely into Scarsella's arms in the 83rd minute after again beating the defence to allow United off the hook with a narrow win.

Scarsella also parried a fierce drive from midfielder Jeff Campbell in the 55th minute to ensure he kept his sixth clean sheet of the season.

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