FA Women's Cup runners-up Sunderland ended their season in style by clinching promotion to the Premier League with a 4-0 win at Preston North End.
The Black Cats, gallant 2-1 losers to Arsenal in the FA Cup final, had to beat the Lilywhites to make sure of pipping Lincoln to the Northern Division title.
They did so thanks to two goals by Jordan Nobbs and one apiece from Lucy Staniforth and Natalie Gutteridge.
England Under-17 captain Nobbs set them on the way to victory, volleying home a 42nd-minute cross by right winger Demi Stokes.
Midfielder Lucy Staniforth doubled the lead with a long range cross-cum-shot 20 minutes into the second half.
The result was put beyond doubt when striker Natalie Gutteridge headed in a 79th minute corner by Stokes.
And 16-year-old Nobbs completed the scoring when she turned in a cross from fellow midfielder Kelly McDougall six minutes from time.
Sunderland's victory was their fourth in succession in an excellent end of season run-in that culminated in the re-claiming of the Premier League place they lost in 2007.
They will step up to the top flight along with Southern Division winners Millwall, the promoted pair replacing relegated Fulham and Liverpool.
Black Cats boss Mick Mulhern will now be a contender for the Manager of the Season accolade when the FA Women's Awards are announced on Friday.
Mulhern will face strong competition, however, from Arsenal's Vic Akers as for the fourth time the Gunners won the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.
After beating Doncaster Belles 5-0 in February's League Cup final Akers' team overcame Sunderland to win the FA Cup a fortnight ago.
And last week, on the day Akers stepped down from his post after 22 years in charge, they beat Everton 1-0 to win the League on goal difference from the Toffees.
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