ADAM Fuller's late winner in a nine-goal thriller meant Blackburn Hawks powered into the English League North play-offs after a successful weekend saw them take valuable points off Sunderland and close rivals Flintshire.

Just a day after Bobby Haig's Hawks side defeated Sunderland Chiefs 9-3 in the North East, second-placed Flintshire Freeze arrived at Blackburn Arena determined to put more points between themselves and third-placed Hawks.

But they were disappointed, for in the closest of games, the Hawks ran out winners at the death.

Chris Black opened the scoring for the Hawks in the sixth minute, but Mark Stokes equalised.

Fuller nudged the hosts ahead again only for Billy Price to make it 2-1 at the end of the first session.

Peter Tapp and Adam Leaver put the Hawks two goals clear, but the dangerous Stokes and Alan Hough clawed Flintshire back.

A tense final period brought a single, yet crucial goal when Tapp was released after good work from Haig and Black. The tall youngster kept his cool to beat Matt Crompton in the Flintshire goals.

It was no more than the Hawks deserved for, despite the visitors' superior shots tally, the home defence remained resolute.

Indeed, Haig singled out goal-minder Robbie 'The Dog' Smith for particular praise.

"Robbie was outstanding all weekend, but he saved his best until last," he said.

"Billy Price was through one-on-one at the end but Robbie was brilliant in keeping him out."

Haig was also delighted with the with win and performance in Sunderland.

"Playing like this, we have no-one to fear in the play-offs, and mathematically, we still have a chance of winning the league," the player-coach said.

Goals from Matt Southall, Fuller and Leaver helped put Hawks 3-1 up after the first session on Saturday. And a second period brace from Haig, the league's leading scorer, extended the lead further.

With the Hawks exercising complete control over their prey, further strikes from Southall and Leaver, along with a Tapp goal, put the Hawks 8-1 up with five minutes remaining.

The rattled Chiefs grabbed two goals back, but good work from Fuller and Ricci Hulme set up Haig to complete his hat-trick and clinch the points.

The Hawks moved ahead of Flintshire on goal difference and now sit just one point behind league leaders Sheffield Scimitars, though the rivals both have games in hand.

HAWKS' TEAM v SUNDERLAND: Saxton, Leaver, Meikle Gary, Barnett Wesley, Hulme, Black, Tapp, Derbyshire, Brunton, Haworth, Fuller, Southall, Haig, Slater, Kelly, Smith.

HAWKS' TEAM v FLINTSHIRE: Saxton, Leaver, Meikle Gary, Tapp, Black, Brunton, Haworth, Hulme, Fuller, Southall, Kinder, haig, Slater, Meikle David, Kelly, Smith, Barnet Wesley, Sheffield Andy, Cooper.

BLACKBURN HAWKS ...5

FLINTSHIRE FREEZE ...4