Goals machine Stacey Sowden took her season's tally to 28 as Barnet Ladies twice took the lead in their FA Women's Cup fifth round tie against Premiership North leaders Liverpool at Hanwell Town ... but two late goals for the visitors ended hopes of a further giant-killing feat after previous wins against West Ham United and Manchester City.

 

Stacey got the Bees off to a flying start with a goal in 10 minutes after a pre-match motivational talk from Barnet manager Paul Fairclough. She ran onto a through ball, rounded the Liverpool keeper and finished in clinical style.

 

For the South East Combination League leaders - a division below their visitors - it was then a question of .... if only. If only Sowden had made it 2-0 when she got through a second time it might have been a completely different story. She was thwarted - and Liverpool steadied themselves, played a neat passing game and assumed command before they levelled with a header five minutes before the interval.

 

The 140-strong crowd - and the Sky Sports cameraman -saw Barnet go off like a bomb again after the interval and, after 50 minutes, Sowden, who attends the Arsenal FC academy but prefers to play for Barnet, repeated her earlier feat, racing through, rounding the goalie and netting in identically clinical fashion. That makes an incredible career totoal of 69 goals in only 34 appearances .... yes, I have got that the right way round, 69 in 34.

 

Liverpool quickly regained possession and, although the Bees fought well, it was no suprise when a second equaliser came after 74 minutes, a shot high over goalkeeper Jess Devoti.

 

Then, cruelly, Liverpool snatched a winner with five minutes to go, this time failure to clear in the area let in a visiting forward to snatch the ball for a killer blow. Manager Tracey Kevins was right to point out afterwards that there wasn't a league's difference between the sides and that Barnet had acquitted themselves well. It was still a bitter pill to swallow though.

 

But now giant-killing FA Cup wins are in the past. The girls have to concentrate on regaining their place in the Premier League South by winning promotion. They have done the name Barnet well. Good luck, girls, from all at Underhill.