BLACKBURN Hawks bounced back from losing a nine-goal thriller at Paisley Pirates when they held high-flying Sheffield Scimitars to a tie in the English National Cup 24 hours later.

The draw at the Arena keeps the Hawks at the top of the group with a good chance of qualifying for the cup final.

Paisley Pirates, currently second in the Scottish League, presented a stiff challenge at the Lagoon Centre. The Hawks were strengthened by the return of Colin Downie, now based full-time north of the border, as goalminder.

Back in September, the Hawks had beaten the Pirates by the odd goal in five and this latest international challenge proved just as tight. Both sides had 30 shots on goal, equally divided between the three sessions, but the Scots took the honours with a late flourish.

Paisley started the brightest, notching a two-goal lead before the Hawks roared back. Player-coach Bobby Haig, a former Paisley player, scored an unassisted effort and then set up an equaliser for Scott Barnett.

Wayne Slater put the Hawks ahead in the second, Watson scored for the Pirates, but Chris Black played in Haig to give the visitors the advantage going into the third.

The final session belonged to the Pirates, who equalised in the 48th minute and then fired a winner with only seconds remaining.

For the second time in a month, the Hawks tied with Sheffield Scimitars in an English Cup clash. The 'roses' rivals drew 1-1 in Yorkshire before Christmas and shared six goals in an exciting cup-tie at the Arena this time around.

With Downie unavailable, Robbie Smith resumed the goal-minding duties on home territory.

Oliver Ritchie scored for the Scimitars after just 31 seconds, but in the second minute, Black equalised and soon after, Anthony Kinder hit the Hawks into a first period lead.

Shaun Ashton hit the only goal of the second session to set up an exciting finale. And so it proved, as Ritchie scored his second to give Sheffield a 3-2 lead. Haig, however, had the last word, scoring a penalty shot to clinch the tie.

Haig said: "The Paisley match was a bit of fun, but Sheffield was the serious stuff. It was a really good game. Both sides played well, the crowd was great and, wait for it, even the referee was good!

"Sheffield have a game in hand, but if we win our remaining games, we have a great chance."