The Yorkshire outfit, who are six points clear at the top of the table with just one game remaining, will have to put their celebrations on hold, though, with an appeal decision pending from second-placed Coventry City after they were docked six points earlier in the week for fielding two ineligible players.
The eventual winners of the Northern Division will go into a play-off against Portsmouth – the Southern Division champions – on Sunday May 24 for a place in FA Women’s Super League 2.
Coventry did their bit on the pitch on Sunday by beating Huddersfield Town 4-1 but it could yet prove in vain after they played Emma Hollingsworth and Carly Davies – both registered as WSL players – in wins over Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest last month.
Only one WSL player can take the field for a Premier League club at a time and, following the ruling and Sheffield’s win at home to Sporting Club Albion, they are now hoping to have their six-point deduction overturned to have any hope of catching Sheffield in the standings.
Portsmouth won The FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division title as three different scorers helped them to a 3-1 triumph at home to West Ham United.
The hosts started brightly and were ahead after just 18 minutes when Sarah Kempson confidently stroked home a penalty following a handball in the West Ham 18-yard box.
And Pompey doubled their advantage just before the half-hour mark when Jessica Frampton fired home from 30 yards before striker Gemma Hillier made it 3-0 on 37 minutes to all-but seal the win – and the title.
At the other end of the table a 3-1 win for Copsewood (Coventry) against Tottenham Hotspur confirmed their status in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division for next season and condemned Gillingham to relegation.
Elsewhere, Cardiff City moved level on points with third-placed Charlton Athletic after an emphatic 4-1 win against the Addicks.
Meanwhile, Queens Park Rangers remain a point in front of Plymouth after the pair drew 1-1 at Ashford Town (Middx).
