BLACKBURN Rovers Ladies secured third place in the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division following a dramatic final-game 4-4 draw at Huddersfield Town.

Gemma Donnelly’s side twice held a two-goal lead but ultimately had to settle for a share of the spoils in Thursday night’s thriller.

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Rovers boss Donnelly said: “After getting a two-goal lead, we were comfortably in the driving seat, but Jo Hutcheson’s error gave them a glimmer of hope. They then raised their game and their tempo and got a second goal just before the break.

“It was a similar story in the second half, with us dominating possession, but every time we made a mistake, Huddersfield came back stronger.

“We are disappointed in the manner in which we conceded the goals. However we have crammed an awful lot of fixtures into the closing weeks of the season and our squad has been decimated by injuries and suspensions.

“The girls had a job to do on Thursday night and that was to come away with at least a point to secure a third place finish.

“I am delighted with where we’ve finished. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the squad as a whole over the season and it sets us some really achievable targets for next year.”

Rovers opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Jess Holbrook tapped in from a cross from Georgia Stanway, who then doubled the advantage five minutes later with a left-footed finish.

Huddersfield reduced the deficit in the 30th minute, after Hutcheson spilled Emily Heckler’s shot into the net, and then equalised on the stroke of half-time through Debbie Hastings.

But Rovers deservedly went back in front in the 70th minute when Emily Bradshaw fired in her first goal of the season.

And it got better moments later when Stanway pounced on an under-hit back pass to net her second.

But Huddersfield were not done yet and, after Hastings struck, Heckler kept her cool from the penalty spot three minutes from the end of normal time to ensure honours ended even.