Jodie Michalska helped herself to a hat-trick as FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division champions Sheffield finished the season in style with a 3-0 victory over Sporting Club Albion.
The former Lincoln Ladies striker opened the scoring on 18 minutes from Lynn Goodman’s teasing cross.
And despite being under pressure from the hosts for much of the first half, Michalska brought up her 30th goal of the season just before the break with a sensational solo effort.
Northern Division results
Bradford City 1-1 Coventry City
Derby County 2-1 Huddersfield Town
Preston North End 1-3 Newcastle United
Sporting Club Albion 0-3 Sheffield
She was not done there, though. Her hat-trick was complete on 57 minutes when she picked the ball up 25 yards out, dropped her shoulder and curled a stunning shot in off the post to make it 3-0.
Sheffield will now play Southern Division winners Portsmouth next Sunday in a play-off to determine who will win promotion to FA Women’s Super League 2 next season.
That game could also have ramifications on Newcastle United’s status in the Northern Division.
The Magpies’ place in the bottom two was confirmed before the 3-1 triumph away to Preston North End on Sunday but they may avoid the drop should Sheffield win the play-off and pass the criteria for promotion to WSL 2.
United took an early lead when Hannah Keane got the slightest touch on a back pass to divert the ball past Danielle Brown.
Gemma Shepherd scored a double hat-trick for Charlton
The visitors then made it 2-0 when Jade Anderson’s cross was met at the back post by Jess Foster who lobbed it back across goal and into the corner.
However, Preston were not about to give up and they pulled a goal back through Keeleigh Savage just before half-time.
American striker Keane, though, sealed the points in the second half as Newcastle picked up just their fifth victory of the season.
Elsewhere, Coventry City ended the season eight points behind leaders Sheffield after a 1-1 draw away at Bradford City.
Derby County emerged 2-1 winners against Huddersfield Town with Lauren Steadman netting a late winner for the Rams.
In the Southern Section, Gemma Shepherd took her tally to 21 for the season with a double hat-trick as free-scoring Charlton Athletic beat Plymouth Argyle 11-1 on Sunday.
Southern Division results
Charlton Athletic 11-1 Plymouth Argyle
Keynsham Town 1-4 Copeswood (Coventry)
Though the title had already been secured by Portsmouth, there was no let up from the south Londoners who brought the curtain down on their season with 88 league goals – scoring 51 of them at their Sporting Club Thamesmead home.
The victory, almost emphatic as their opening day 12-1 win over Keynsham Town, ensures Charlton finished the season third and with three trophies in the bag – the FA Women’s Premier League Cup, the Ryman Cup, and, most recently, the Capital Women’s Cup.
Bottom club Keynsham Town concluded their season with a ninth home defeat, this time going down 4-1 to Copsewood (Coventry).
Keynsham, who have taken points in only three games this season, battled gallantly in the opening period against a Copsewood side who had already ensured they would be playing in the Southern Division for a second consecutive season last week.
