Melbourne City have gone five points clear at the top of the table and extended their unbeaten run to an A-League Women record 19 games with a thrilling 4-3 win over Adelaide United.

Resurgent Matildas striker Holly McNamara was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick - though she could yet have the first of her three goals awarded to teammate Lourdes Bosch.

If McNamara's hat-trick stands, she will draw level with Melbourne Victory's Emily Gielnik (10 goals) at the top of the golden boot race.

Matildas veteran Tameka Yallop scored twice but limped off as Brisbane Roar lost to Newcastle 3-2 and put their finals hopes in danger.

City (43 points, 19 games played) lead Melbourne Victory (38 points, 18 games) and Adelaide (36 points, 19 games) at the pointy end of the season.

In the 10th minute, Tyla-Jay Vlajnic's free kick proved too hot to handle for Claudia Jenkins and McNamara was on hand to bundle home - though Bosch could have got the final touch.

City doubled their lead in the 27th minute when Bosch went on a brilliant run down the right then slipped the ball to McNamara and the striker slid in to score.

Adelaide hit back six minutes later when City failed to clear their lines and Ella Tonkin bundled home.

An own goal by Adelaide's Lucia Leon made it 3-1 in the 31st minute.

In the 53rd, Erin Healy lashed home from the edge of the area to draw Adelaide within a goal.

Eleven minutes later, McNamara drove the ball into the bottom corner to restore a two-goal buffer and complete her hat-trick.

Zoe Tolland headed home in the 73rd to make for a nervous finish but City held on.

At Perry Park, Brisbane opened the lead in the seventh minute when Laini Freier slipped through Matildas teammate Yallop to score.

In the 17th minute Emma Dundas equalised with a thumping long-range strike.

Two minutes later, Yallop received the ball from Grace Kuilamu and let rip into the top corner.

It was her 71st goal, as she overtook Sam Kerr for the second-most ALW goals, behind Michelle Heyman (116).

Newcastle equalised four minutes after the break when Lauren Allan was released into space and teed up Deven Jackson to score.

Yallop was substituted in the 78th minute but played down concerns.

"Bit of cramp, but should be fine for next week," she told Paramount Plus.

Brisbane had their chances, but Allan proved the late hero, steering home Lorena Baumann's 95th-minute cross.

The Jets (20 points) sit just five points behind fifth-placed Brisbane and sixth-placed Central Coast.