Marcos Flores opened the scoring after just five minutes and Sergio van Dijk doubled the Reds advantage on 17 minutes.

The result keeps the pressure on leaders Brisbane Roar but leaves troubled Fury propping up the rest.

The Reds looked to be in the mood for a goal-fest but lacked lethal finishing as the match progressed while the Fury were restricted to hopeful, long-range chances.

United had the visitors pinned down in their own half for much of the opening 45 minutes but failed to add more goals and kill off the Fury.

Adelaide punished some pedestrian Fury defending inside the opening five minutes when Flores smashed the ball into the bottom corner from six yards.

The Reds won possession back after a botched corner with Cassio firing it back into the danger zone to see Robert Cornthwaite's misdirected header fall fortuitously for Paul Reid.

The hardnosed midfielder picked out Flores with a superb first-time cut back and the Argentine handed the Reds the lead, skipping in ahead of four statuesque Fury defenders.

Ten minutes later and United doubled their advantage with Cassio providing a centimetre-perfect cross for van Dijk to head past Justin Pasfield in the North Queensland goal.

The pocket rocket baulked down the left, feigned a cross before beating his opponent to deliver a delightful ball for his striker.

Travis Dodd turned in a lively second half and nearly found the back of the net on the hour when he danced past two defenders on the byline.

The captain preferred to square the ball for Flores who was running through the middle, but he was beaten to the ball by the Fury defence.