KATIE Wilkinson struck again but a late Blackburn Rovers equaliser denied Saints Women all three points on the road in a 1-1 draw.

The veteran forward had sent Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side ahead early in the second-half at Ewood Park, after she opened her Saints account with a hat-trick last time out.

The St Mary’s side were on course for a fifth consecutive clean sheet and fifth consecutive Championship win when Rovers levelled with just five minutes to spare.

It means promotion rivals London City Lionesses put distance between the teams in the top three, with a visit to the Dartford-based outfit to come in two weeks.

Wilkinson and Beth Lumsden had both fired wide with first-half chances while another effort was well tipped over in Lancashire.

It took just over 10 minutes of the second-half for former Oxford United ace Lumsden to cut back to two-time Championship top scorer Wilkinson for the opening goal.

The Rovers equaliser came in the 85th minute and a Spacey-Cale double-substitution seconds later was not enough to reinstate a one-goal lead.

The result sees Saints remain unbeaten in eight Championship matches – since the opening day of the season – with 18 points from nine. 

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