Cherie Rowlands is hoping that Portsmouth Ladies can pull off a cup shock in order to meet Barnet Ladies in the quarter-final of the FA Women’s Premier League Cup. 

The Bees progressed past Lewes when Stacey Sowden’s 96th minute winner clinched a 2-0 win for Tracey Kevins’ side. 

Pompey face Manchester City with the Bees travelling to face the winner on 2 February and after losing twice to the Sky Blues this season Rowlands is keen to avoid them. 

“I would not say I have a preference of who I wanted to play in the next round but I was keen to avoid Sunderland and Leeds because they are two very good teams.

“We played Manchester City at the start of the season and lost 3-0, we scored two own goals and we lost 1-0 to them away too so if I had to choose I prefer to rather face Portsmouth.”

Looking back on a hard-fought encounter at Underhill Rowlands admitted some of the players may have lost focus but praised Lewes’ spirit after pushing the Bees right to the wire.

“It was great to progress but it was a frustrating afternoon because I think a few of the girls thought it would be easier considering Lewes are in a division below. 

“I also think that they are second bottom of that division but credit to them because they dug in and made it difficult for us to get a result.” 

Their performance in the Premier League has provided less to cheer about but Rowlands is hoping that their cup run can inspire them to more success.

“Our league performance has not been as good as what we have produced in the cup but hopefully this run can have a positive effect on our league form.

“We always seem to perform well in the cup but it has been a frustrating couple of years in the league, we came up and battled relegation but then finished fourth but unfortunately we are now bottom again.”

Rowlands also wished Tracey Kevins well as she prepares to move American outfit LA Strikers but the keeper admitted her own future and that of Barnet Ladies is still unclear. 

“Tracey is leaving to join LA Strikers at the end of the season and we wish her well but she will be a massive loss for the club.

“Hopefully somebody else can come in and continue the work we have started because we really feel like we are a part of Barnet Football Club.”

She continued by expressing her hope that Barnet Ladies will join the Women’s Super League Two when and if it becomes a reality. 

“I believe that a Women’s Super League Two is forming in April 2014 so that is definitely something we would want to be a part of.

We applied to be in the Women’s Super League and just missed out but over the past couple of years we have become more of a part of the club by playing at Underhill and using The Hive.”