BLACKBURN Rovers Ladies have finished third for the second season running after rounding off their campaign with a 2-1 home win over Newcastle United.

A first-half brace from Leah Foster ensured Gemma Donnelly’s side moved above Stoke City into the top three of the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division.

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Rovers boss Donnelly said: “It was a fitting way to finish the season “I thought the girls put in a professional performance, they put in 100% despite it being the last game and nothing particular to play for.

“We played well, we never really looked threatened, we were very comfortable and sat behind the ball for large spells of the game. We just had to be patient and I thought the girls did well.

“It equals our league position from last season in finishing third, but we got four points more this time. We finished off the season how we want to start the next season.

“I must also add commiserations to the reserve team who were knocked off the top spot to finish second having led for the majority of the campaign, but well done to them for their season.”

Rovers started strongly and, after Ellie Cook headed over, they broke the deadlock in the fifth minute when Foster fired a low shot past the advancing Newcastle goalkeeper after great play down the right.

The young forward, along with Ella Toone, then saw chances come and go.

But Foster did double her tally in the 42nd minute after Jess Holbrook played a pass across the edge of the area.

United reduced the arrears in first-half injury-time and that proved to be the end of the scoring.

However Lynda Shepherd, Cara Bickett, Holbrook, Ainsley Strickland and Foster all went close to restoring Rovers’ two-goal advantage before Newcastle wasted a golden opportunity to equalise.