A Michelle Heyman hat-trick has lifted Canberra United to their first four-game winning streak in seven years, beating Adelaide United 4-2 in an entertaining affair at McKellar Park.

The massive result means Canberra have erased the gap to the A-League Women’s top-four, moving level on points with fourth-placed Melbourne Victory – three adrift on goal difference – with four games left in the regular season.

The 34-year-old Heyman continues to produce some of the best form of her stellar career, and now has seven goals in her last four games to take her tally to 12 for the season.

She is also closing in on more ALW history, now with 94 career goals and within six of becoming the first player to crack triple figures.

Heyman was on the spot when United needed her most, sealing the vital three points for her side on 76 minutes by getting on the end of a through ball and sliding her shot past Adelaide keeper Annalee Grove.

She had struck twice in a free-scoring first half-hour during which the two sides combined for five goals, but Adelaide came on strong in the second half and threatened to spoil Canberra’s opportunity to push their top-four case.

Canberra’s Grace Maher opened the scoring inside five minutes from the penalty spot and it was 2-0 soon after, Heyman using her body to guide the ball home after a Nicki Flannery cross took a deflection.

But Adelaide were up for the fight, forward Katie Bowler flicking Meisha Westland’s through ball past Canberra keeper Keeley Richards to give them a lifeline at 2-1.

After Heyman doubled up – rising high to nod home an inch-perfect Flannery cross – Adelaide were again equal to the challenge, Maruschka Waldus scoring with her head from a Nanako Sasaki dead ball.

Flannery, who should have scored with a point-blank header in the first half, wasted Canberra’s best chance to put the game to bed, blasting a one-on-one effort over the bar nearing 75 minutes.

Canberra had not won four-straight games since 2016 and they will look to make it five next weekend against struggling Western Sydney, before they close the regular season with the daunting stretch of Victory (fourth), Western United (first) and Melbourne City (third).

It was only the second time Adelaide have scored twice in a game this season, but the Reds were once again unable to register a win and remain without a victory in nine games.