Tratt originally played for Sydney FC as a youth, winning the 2014 Youth League title as captain, before having to move elsewhere to find professional opportunities.

In between spells at the Sutherland Sharks, the 24-year-old played a season for Wellington Phoenix. As he grew older, it appeared unlikely that Tratt would forge an enduring A-League career - but his determination and work rate paid off.

Now, after scoring in the Sydney derby on his debut for the Sky Blues, the free-roaming defender has added a winner against Adelaide in his first start for his boyhood club.

"We're thankful for Redders (Andrew Redmayne), he saved us," Tratt said. "Happy days. It's a very important match considering they were only a few points from the top of the table.

"I got another header so I'm pretty stoked. I just want to say thanks to my family and my girlfriend because I wouldn't be here without them."

After Sydney raced to a two-goal lead against the Reds - the first goal a pearler of a free-kick from Siem de Jong - Adelaide managed to claw one back after George Blackwood earned Craig Goodwin a penalty.

The fringe Socceroo converted to bring his season's goal tally to six, but despite a late surge requiring a brilliant save from Redmayne, the Reds looked second best.

"It's dissapointing after last week but it got made really hard for us at the start," Goodwin said.

"The referee gives a foul when it should have been our ball and then it was an unbelievable free kick.

"We made it difficult for ourselves, but we need to put it in the back of our minds, there are still a lot of points to play for.

"We created some good chances, the crossing wasn't so good, but we get lucky with a goal disallowed for them, then unlucky with Redmayne's brilliant save. 

"We just didn't have that little bit of quality and we made it hard for ourselves."