City stay top as McNamara returns in A-League Women

Melbourne City have fought back from an outbreak of gastro and going a goal down against Canberra United to claim a 4-2 win and stay top of the A-League Women.

City welcomed back star forward and Matildas young gun Holly McNamara from a 13-month lay-off from her third ACL tear in the 70th minute of their hard-fought win.

A Tameka Yallop-inspired Brisbane Roar are hot on City's heels after claiming a 2-1 win over Central Coast.

Elsewhere, Perth kept in touch with the top six by snagging a 3-1 win over Adelaide.

City had to overcome some disruption before their clash with Canberra at AAMI Park.

Playmaker Rhianna Pollicina and Shelby McMahon were both late withdrawals through gastro, with the former a withdrawal during the on-field warm-up.

Canberra took the lead when Michelle Heyman was released on the break, rounded Malena Mieres and coolly finished into the bottom corner in the 12th minute.

City equalised three minutes after half-time.

Mariana Speckmaier hit the bar from close range but Kathryn Harvey bundled home in the subsequent goal mouth scramble.

City's second arrived in the 61st minute when Speckmaier headed into Maja Markovski and the Canberra striker's hip unluckily turned the ball into her own net.

The 21-year-old McNamara entered the fray to a round of applause in the 70th minute and City extended their lead seven minutes later.

Laura Hughes pounced on a loose backpass, drove forward and brilliantly chipped Canberra goalkeeper Sally James.

Heyman gave Canberra a flicker of hope when she turned home Bethany Gordon's cross with a first-time strike in the 89th minute.

McNamara came through her cameo unscathed and sought out contact on multiple occasions as she got back to grips with the speed of the game.

In the 93rd minute Lourdes Bosch slipped through McNamara and the striker burst forward, and clipped the post - but Leticia McKenna was on hand to tap home City's fourth.

"So much fun," McNamara said on-field.

"It's been a long time coming."

Brisbane played Central Coast on Sunday after their game on Saturday was washed out.

Yallop scored an 80th-minute winner, four minutes after Mariners teenager Tiana Fuller had cancelled out Deborah-Anne De la Harpe's opener.

The red-hot Matildas star, and teammate Sharn Freier, returned to the ALW after missing Brisbane's loss to Wellington through international duties.

In Sunday's third game, Naomi Chinnama turned home her first ALW goal to put Perth in front in the 24th minute.

Chelsea Dawber equalised with a lovely finish in the 70th minute.

But five minutes later, Gabby Hollar scored from the penalty spot to deliver Perth's second win of the season.

Adelaide defender Matilda McNamara was sent off in the 82nd minute and Hollar scored her second nine minutes later to wrap things up.

City (14 points) lead Brisbane (12) and Victory (11) at the top of the table.