Blackburn Rovers Ladies were crowned Women’s Challenge Cup Champions for a fifth successive season, following a 2-0 win over Fylde Ladies at the County Ground.

Natasha Flint and Saffron Jordan scored the crucial goals for Rovers, who deserved their victory and then some.

Flint, donning Blackburn’s number ten jersey, should have scored in the sixth minute with her driving effort from 25 yards but it went wide of Brittany Jackson’s goal.

At the other end, Emily Hollinshead had a chance to give Fylde the lead with an effort which was spilled by the goalkeeper, but luckily for the Rovers number one, she was able to scamper back and collect the ball before any Fylde player poked at the ball.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Natasha Flint gave Blackburn the lead with a beautiful curling effort from 20 yards out, bouncing off the far post and over the line.

Blackburn held onto their slender lead for half time, yet deserved more on the score sheet. It didn’t take them long to double the lead thanks to some great play down the left hand side on 51 minutes from Jess Holbrook. Rovers number six found a peach of a cross to Saffron Jordan who was able to stab home and make it 2-0.

In truth, the second goal finished the game off and Blackburn were deserved champions – the perfect warm up to their play-off final match next weekend for a place in the Women’s Super League.

Blackburn Rovers Ladies: D Gibbons, C Jukes, A Taylor, L Shephard, N Fenton, J Holbrook, K McDonald, L Makin, L Davies, N Flint, S Jordan

Subs: H Walsh, C Redman, M Dykes, R Montgomery, L Jones

Fylde Ladies: B Jackson, S Rowe, O Fuller, J Carroll, L Merrin, H Forster, K Turner, D Young, E Hollinshead, C Hignett, G Stevens

Subs: G Payton, H Hunter, E Hughes

Referee: Cristiana Hattersley

Assistant Referees: Kay McEvoy & Abby Dearden

Fourth Official: Emily Carney