Women's Football

May 11 2009 The Journal

BEATEN FA Cup finalists Sunderland are just one game away from returning to the top flight of the women’s game following a 4-1 northern division win at Leicester City.

Sunderland need to win at bottom-half club Preston North End in their final game next season to end a memorable campaign with the championship and promotion.

The Black Cats were two up inside 15 minutes at Leicester where Jordan Nobbs opened the scoring and then Kelly McDougall chipped the Foxes keeper.

Defender Vicky Greenwell scored her first goal of the season in the 39th minute from a Demi Stokes corner before Remi Allen pulled a goal back for City.

Sunderland added a fourth through Lucy Bronze in injury time.

Newcastle United finished fourth in the table despite a final day 5-2 defeat against Preston North End.

United were four down at half-time with Sarah Berry and Sarah Walker both scoring headers. Mel Reay pulled one back early in the second half and then made it 2-4 with a header from a Claire Pitt cross. Walker, however, claimed her hat-trick with a diving header 12 minutes from time.

Newcastle reserves drew 1-1 with Preston with Steph Shaw scoring the goal while Sunderland’s second string lost 6-3 against Nottingham Forest reserves.