Unbeaten City snatch Victory draw, Mariners batter Jets

Melbourne City have snatched an 89th-minute equaliser against Melbourne Victory, claiming a 1-1 draw to remain unbeaten and keep hold of top spot on the A-League Women table.

Elsewhere, Central Coast tightened their stranglehold on the F3 Derby with a 5-1 win over a 10-player Newcastle, and Canberra rose to seventh on the table with a 1-0 win over Perth Glory.

The Melbourne derby was pushed back an hour to 6pm due to the heat, but players required drinks breaks every 15 minutes.

Victory took the lead at Casey Fields when Rachel Lowe pounced on a stray pass from Alexia Apostolakis and finished with aplomb in the fifth minute.

City star Holly McNamara had several good chances but was largely well-contained by Kayla Morrison.

McNamara went down just before being substituted in the 75th minute, but coach Michael Matricciani confirmed it was just cramp.

City goalkeeper Malena Mieres thwarted Victory attacker Emily Gielnik multiple times and the home side struck late when Rhianna Pollicina picked out Mariana Speckmaier to turn home the equaliser.

"The character of the team is unquestionable. When I felt like they had nothing left to give, they kept grinding and they found a way," Matricciani said.

City, who beat their crosstown rivals earlier in the season, sit top on 30 points ahead of Victory (28) and Adelaide (26).

"We've played them twice and been the better side twice and City, they're top of the league," Victory coach Jeff Hopkins said.

"The performance was very good today, but we probably need to be more clinical in front of goal."

At Industree Group Stadium, Mariners forward Brooke Nunn opened the scoring in the eighth minute, but Jets teenager Josie Allan responded in the 30th.

A howler by Newcastle goalkeeper Danielle Krzyzaniak three minutes later gifted the Mariners the lead.

Under pressure from Tiana Fuller, Krzyzaniak sent the ball directly to Galic in the box.

Fuller scored in the 49th minute, before Jade Pennock goaled five minutes later.

Newcastle's horror afternoon did not stop there.

Claudia Cicco was sent off in the 78th minute for pulling Annalise Rasmussen's shirt outside the box.

Peta Trimis hammered the final nail in the coffin, scoring three minutes into added time.

Central Coast (6-5-3) can finish as high as fourth at the end of the round after their second straight derby win against 10th-placed Newcastle.

Elizabeth Anton broke the deadlock for Canberra at McKellar Park after managing to sneak the ball through a congested penalty area.

Glory goalkeeper Casey Dumont got a glove on the corner kick, but the ball spilled to the feet of a quick-thinking Anton in the 56th minute.