Rover Oxford Ladies won promotion to the English National League at the second time of asking with a sensational 3-1 victory over Leyland Motors, who also qualified for promotion.

Rover needed only to draw to go up, but Leyland were clearly determined to make them work for it.

With Lorraine Furney sidelined through injury, Ruth Foot took over the captaincy and made an immense contribution to the team with some tireless running.

Rover took the lead midway through the first half following a searing right-wing run of some 50 yards by Claire Newport. She picked out Marie Hayden whose first-time shot crashed into the goal.

Leyland equalised before half-time from a follow-up to a penalty corner.

The second half provided some tense moments before Katie Smith fired Rover ahead, again from a penalty corner strike.

With 15 minutes to play, Rover knew they had a very good chance of promotion and, with four minutes left, Vicky Mankelow made sure with the third goal at the right post.

The team are grateful to all of those supporters who helped them through the weekend and in particular to Nick Malden and Oxford Software for their sponsorship.

It was a superb 3-1 win over Birmingham University on Sunday evening which put Rover in second place with one game to go.

Mankelow fired them in front, and although Birmingham lev- elled to make it 1-1 at half-time, Hayden restored Rover's lead early in the second half and Smith sealed victory.

On the Saturday morning, Rover were disappointed to have gifted Kettering a goal, but they hit back with Smith equalising to earn a vital point.