Rovers Ladies signed off life in the third tier doing what they do best – winning silverware.

They made it a four-some season as they added the Championship play-off final trophy to their league, league cup and county cup successes.

It was also a fitting end for captain Lynda Shepherd who has got very used to lifting trophies, with the 3-0 win over Coventry United at the home of Bradford City her final appearance before retiring.

Saffron Jordan, Natasha Flint and Natasha Fenton were all on the scoresheet for Gemma Donnelly’s side who beat the southern division winners with ease.

This came after Rovers were finally granted promotion to the Women’s Championship after two failed applications, and play-off final defeats, to Tottenham and Charlton in the last two years.

Rovers have been dominant in the third tier, and will now get their chance to test themselves in the Championship next season.

A delighted Donnelly said: “I can’t even put it into words.

“Who would have expected it at the start of the season after the disappointment of the last two seasons?

“I’m so proud of the girls for sticking at it.

“They’ve been class all year. And then to top it off with this, which we’ve been waiting so long for.

“To do it in such style as well, I have no words.

“This is the end of our season, the close of one chapter and the start of a new one.”

Rovers had to bide their time to open the scoring, taking a 1-0 lead four minutes before the break. Fenton and Flint were in the move which created space for Jordan to fire the ball in to the roof of the net.

The crucial second came nine minutes after the re-start, player of the match Jess Holbrook the provider for Flint who fired home for her 44th of the season.

And Holbook was again the creator when Rovers made the game safe with 19 minutes to play as Fenton rose highest  to head home a corner.

“It was tough. The first half with adrenaline and emotions, tactics probably went out of the window. It was going to be a free for all,” Donnelly said of the game.

“In the last 10 minutes we got a foothold in the game and got the goal which settled us but I thought second-half we were dominant and showed our class.

“I’m thrilled for the girls.”

Flint took her tally for the season to an incredible 44 as she netted early in the second half.

And Donnelly added of her top scorer: “As they say, it’s a team effort.

“Everyone has to work hard for the ball to get up to them.

“We spoke about it at half-time about them working harder at the top.

“Even though they’re scoring all these goals, they are still in the spotlight because we want them to be the best that they can.

“And I think they worked incredibly hard in the second-half, closing down.

“That’s how we’ve created a couple of the goals.”

There was almost a fitting end for Rovers late on, only for midfielder Shepherd to see a header well saved.

But there was no denying Rovers taking more plaudits, and silverware, at the end of an incredible year.

Rovers: Gibbons, Jukes, Shepherd, Holbrook, Davies (Taylor 80), Fenton, Jordan, Flint, Makin, McDonald, Fletcher (Walsh 84).