From misery to sheer delight in twelve months – Watford Women bounced back to the Championship at the first attempt as they beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 at Stadium MK to clinch promotion.

Only a year ago the Golden Girls were sent down seven minutes into stoppage time on the final day of the season, but wind forward 12 months and tears turned to cheers they gave an accomplished, confident and classy performance to add the Play-Off Final to their Southern Division title.

Watford’s brand of crisp passing football under head coach Damon Lathrope was well suited to the lush surface at Stadium MK, and they enjoyed lots of possession, making Forest chase around to try and win the ball.

In Dre Georgiou they had a player who summed up the entire performance – the midfielder was tireless, biting into tackles, slowing the game down or releasing a quick pass as the situation dictated, and continually looking to drive her team on.

Keeper Jacqui Goldsmid made two superb saves in the first half that turned out to be crucial while Poppy Wilson’s winning goal was a cracker, a header that was goalbound the instant she got her head to the cross.

The vastly experienced Gemma Davison was at the heart of everything going forward – Forest didn’t quite know what to do with her at times as she jinked, turned and darted into gaps.

There were heroes all over the pitch in truth, while in the dug-out Lathrope calmly steered the ship as he has done all season.

This was a day when the yellow of Watford shone brightly in the sun, and the badge on the shirt was worn and supported with pride.

Watford started the game with same XI and subs from the winning final-day visit to Billericay Town

They made a bright start with Baptiste seeing a low cross from the right cleared inside the six-yard ox and then Head broke into the box but saw Batty smother at her feet.

At the other end, Goldsmid made a routine save when Greengrass shot from 20 yards.

The Watford keeper then excelled in the ninth minute as Domingo slipped Mosby in on the right of the box and Goldsmid was off her line quickly to block.

Rossiter turned well 20 yards and took an early shot that skipped wide of the target.

Watford went ahead in style in the 18th minute. Davison swung in a cross from the left and Wilson met at the back of the six-yard box with a header that went beyond Batty into the roof of the net.

Only three minutes later Goldsmid came to the rescue again though as she dashed off her line to deny Domingo after she had played a one-two with Mosby.

Forest came even closer in the 29th minute when Anderson curled a 20-yard free-kick up and over the wall, but the ball grazed the upright on its way wide.

Five minutes before the break Wilson tried an audacious 40-yard effort on the turn having seen Batty off her lined, but the ball went just wide.

In stoppage time Davison curled a free-kick into the box and the ball ran Wide of the back post having eluded the stretching Wilson.

Six minutes after the restart Wilson was so close to heading home a second as she got on the end of Baptiste's cross but saw it blocked near the line

Then Head broke away down the left and got into the box, but her low shot was held by Batty

Watford had the ball in the net - and the stadium PA started the goal music - but Head was offside as she guided a shot into the corner

In the 66th minute it could have been wrapped up. Substitute Fyfe cut inside her full back and teed up Rossiter, but from eight yards she lifted her shot over the bar.

Forest’s closest call came three minutes later when Domingo got to the by-line and pulled the ball back to West, who sent an angled shot just wide of the back post

As the game wore on Forest went more direct but Watfird stayed calm and solid, held their shape and managed the threat well.

Ten minutes from time there was one final scare as Greengrass rose highest to meet a free kick but headed well over.

The closing stages, including five minutes of stoppage time, were tense but only in as much as the clock seemed to tick by so slowly.

Watford looked assured, Forest ran out of ideas and the final whistle brought sheer delirium to the 2,000 fans who had made the trip from Hertfordshire.

Watford Women: Goldsmid; Meiwald, Rossiter (Wallace 90+1), Baptiste (Fyfe 65), Davison, Head, Georgiou, Chandler, Wilson, Palisch, McLean. Subs: Gibson, Ward, Brough