Women's Football News Archive
 Rachel Stowell has enjoyed great success in the F.A.Women's Cup during her career and she is hoping to help make a further impact in the Fourth Round.Rachel (nee McArthur) is currently captaining Northern Division high fliers Leicester City and her side are set to take on top flight Millwall Lionesses for a place in the last sixteen. "We'll be going in as underdogs and have nothing to lose, but will take it as a league game," Rachel told Women's Soccer Scene. "Millwall will be expected to win but we've got a young and talented squad at Leicester and shall be going all out for victory. "We played Doncaster in the League Cup earlier this season and did well, we eventually lost 3-1 but held our own and weren't bullied by them." The arctic weather which hit the country over the holiday period has caused chaos to the fixture schedule and the game on Sunday is under doubt because of the weather. However Rachel is convinced that this will not present too big a problem for her side. "We've both got to play on the same surface," she says. "The snow hasn't stopped us training and we have been worked hard over Christmas, playing a friendly against Barnet which we won. "We're absolutely raring to go - our manager Rehanne Skinner has given us a programme over the holidays which has kept us ticking over." Leicester are only in their second season in the Premier League but are acquitting themselves well, currently lying in second place in the Northern Division table. "We've slipped up a few times but that comes with a young squad," Rachel admits. "Liverpool have opened up a gap at the top but we've still got to play them twice. "We mustn't lose a game against this season in the league and hope that Liverpool slip up. We've made it a little difficult for ourselves but we'll learn from that. Our confidence is high, we're doing okay but can do better." Leicester have had few problems finding the net this season, averaging nearly three goals per game and Rachel herself is getting amongst the goals. "I'm starting to find the net again!" she laughs. "We are a good side going forward and are pacey up front, but we have been working hard on not conceding goals at the other end. As long as we score one more than the opposition, that is okay!" For Rachel, the campaign has been her first full one following a long period out of the game with a long term knee injury as well as the birth to her daughter Ella Rose. "It was tough getting back after I spent two years out," she said. "The hardest was actually getting my match fitness back but I'm slowly getting back into it. After giving birth to Ella, I had an operation on my knee shortly afterwards but I was back within five months. It's just a case of getting my sharpness back and getting used to playing under pressure again. "I needed to play football regularly once again and I am settled at Leicester now and really enjoying it." Now Rachel returns to the F.A.Cup once more and a chance to keep up her proud record in the competition. "I've won the Cup five times and played in two other Finals, the last being for Arsenal against Leeds in 2006, so it is a competition I really enjoy," she says. "But first our sights will be set on playing Millwall. "If we can get through and the draw is kind to us, we'll be quietly confident. Sunderland proved last season that it can be done and, who knows, maybe someone can follow on from them this time."
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