Barnet are off up the M1 and M6 to Manchester again for a big Cup game this weekend ..... but this time it is the Bees' Ladies team in action and the opposition is City rather than United.

 

It's the FA Women's Cup fourth round - Barnet's best Cup run since 2000-1 when the side were knocked out in the quarter final sixth round by eventual finalists Fulham - and the Bees will be playing Manchester City, of the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division, at Flixton FC at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

 

City are one level above Barnet in the pyramid of women's football but, with the Bees currently sitting proudly on top of the South East Combination League and hoping to win promotion back into the Premier League at the end of the season, anticipation is high. The Bees have won 10 of their 12 League matches to date, losing only once.

 

They have reached this stage of the FA Women's Cup thanks to victories over Chesham United, Dagenham and Redbridge and West Ham United. In the first round, away to Chesham, the Bees won 4-3 after extra time. Stacey Sowden scored a hat-trick in this match, her third and the winning goal coming in the final minute of extra time. Beth Curtis scored the Bees' other goal from the penalty spot.

 

Dagenham and Redbridge were the visitors to Hanwell Town for round two and were defeated by an Emma Traynor goal. Premier League opponents West Ham were next in the third round .... with the Bees turning giant-killers with a resouinding 4-1 win. Beth Curtis scored twice - once from the penalty spot, with Stacey Sowden and Charlotte Herson also on target.

 

The Bees are close to full strength for the Manchester game. Club captain Cerrie Byrne returns to the squad after a back injury and Northern Ireland international Ashley Hutton and influential midfielder Leanne Small also return after missing the league match with Dagenham and Redbridge on December 18.

 

Scoring doesn't seem to be a problem with the ladies. Beth Curtis and Stacey Sowden will continue their striking partnership, which has earned them a joint total of 32 goals this season.

 

C'mon you Bees!