BLACKBURN Rovers failed to book a place in the National First Division play-offs after suffering a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to former Eastern Cape neighbours Bay United at the Buffalo City Stadium yesterday.

With promotion rivals Chippa winning 4-0 at FC AK and Thanda Royal Zulu running out 1-0 winners over the University of Pretoria, the result meant Rovers finished fourth on the NFD log and thus fail to make the play-offs.

The win for United, meanwhile, saw them survive the drop to the Vodacom League.

With Rovers looking for a win to confirm their place in the play-offs and United fighting to avoid relegation, the first half predictably began at a frantic pace.

And while neither team was able to break the deadlock in the first half, fans were treated to some entertaining football with both sides going marginally close.

The hosts were the first to settle but it was United who almost took the lead after eight minutes.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Klaas Galane failed to get his head on to a well taken inswinging Kopano Sekgobela corner.

But that near miss sparked the hosts into life with the busy Loyiso Simandla almost getting the opener after he was put through by Sherwin Smith on the break.

But the nifty winger sent his shot over the crossbar, with only goalkeeper Nkueni Mayala to beat.

Rovers continued in the ascendency with Smith coming close on a number of occasions.

The second half started at a more cautious pace though Rovers continued to dominate possession.

But it was left to substitute Kagiso Mhishi to break Rovers' hearts with a monstrous effort from about 25m out in the 75th minute.