BLACKBURN Northern Ladies Hockey Club Ladies bounced back from a 5-0 defeat at Sheffield on Saturday to win 4-2 in the third round of the EHA Plate competition.

They hosted North Stafford at Witton Park and were really up for the game as their goal this season is to reach the Plate Finals at Milton Keynes in May.

North Stafford scored first, 15 minutes into the game on a solid strike from the top of the D into the far corner. Blackburn quickly responded though, as Jill Perkes slid a pass from Vicky Whittaker past the North Staffs goalkeeper on a short corner.

Blackburn then took the lead 10 minutes before half time as player-of-the-match Whittaker finished one off herself from 10 yards out. Seven minutes into the second half Blackburn got an insurance goal from Sally Finnemore after Whittaker was again involved in a scramble in front of goal. Just as Blackburn felt safe with their lead, the visitors got one back with 10 minutes remaining. Perkes however, scored her second of the game with five minutes to go to seal the victory.

Blackburn now advance to the last 16 of this prestigious competition with the next round not being played until February.

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