Bad weather and a brave FA Women's Cup run have conspired to keep OOH Lincoln out of League action since the win over Aston Villa in November. Assistant Manager Steve Harris said: "We've been able to train so fitness wise we're not too bad. At the end of the Blackburn game tiredness did show, but that was after 120 minutes.

"When we have played, we've played well and created lots of chances. That's what we'll need to do again on Sunday."

In September a last-gasp Jodie Michalska goal saw off City's determined resistance at Ashby Avenue. And the Lady Imps expect another difficult game against the side who finished third in the League last season, behind Sunderland and OOH Lincoln.

"It's always a tight game against this team, especially away from home. The last couple of seasons it's been the odd late goal that we've got to win the game.

"We expect another tough game and I shouldn't think there will be a lot of goals in it. So we've got to be up for it and realise it's going to be hard.

"We need to put them under pressure and not let them settle. We need to be first to the ball and close them down.

"Working hard is one of our strengths as a team. We need to do that early doors and take charge of the game.

Ahead of the Valentine's Day showdown (2pm), Steve Harris has revealed that the Lady Imps plan to rotate their squad. The Assistant Manager said: "From the outset we said the reserves would play in the majority of County Cup games, so that's what will happen.

"There are some girls who haven't played much football from the first team, and some of them will be getting a run out as well. But on the whole it will be the reserves."

With several first teamers set to take a well-earned rest after last week's epic FA Cup defeat at Blackburn Rovers, Harris reiterated his pride at the team's performance: "The girls did really well. Overall I think it was always going to be a 1-0 either way. Throughout the game it wasn't going to be any more than that."

Fans might even glimpse a new face on Sunday. Brooke Johns, the sister of flying winger Randi, has jetted in from California for a trial period.

"She's over here with her sister and we'll see how she fits in. If she does well she'll stay.

"She's trained last night and tonight and she looks promising. She's a left-footed defender and could be useful.

"I would think she'll get a run out on Sunday," said Harris.

Blackburn 1 - 0 OOH Lincoln Ladies

OOH Lincoln Ladies came within a whisker of progressing through to the quarter-finals of the FA Woman's Cup on Sunday, however their hopes were dashed by a killer Blackburn goal deep into extra time.

The game was evenly matched. Blackburn enjoyed supremacy for the first half an hour, but Lincoln were on top for much of the second half.

Early on Blackburn striker Katie Anderton had the ball in the back of the Lincoln net, but she was adjuged to be offside.

Stacey Aisthorpe and Jodie Michalska both went close on several occasions, but the outstanding player for Lincoln on the day was their keeper Kay Hawke.

Hawke pulled off three magnificent saves for her side to keep them in the match, including a penalty.

The other hero of the day, Leandra Little blocked a hard close range shot with her body on the line to keep the score level, but the linesman inexplicably gave Blackburn a penalty for handball. Katie Anderton fired a ferocious shot from the spot which was heading inside the left hand post, however Hawke somehow managed to get a glove to the ball and push it wide to keep the score level.

With several more chances missed at either end of the pitch, the match remained scoreless until just three minutes of extra time were left on the clock - just as the game began to looked destined to go to a penalty shoot out the dangerous Katie Anderton struck for the home side.

She volleyed a cross past the glove of Hawke to snatch the match for Blackburn, which will see them play the mighty Everton away from home on Sunday 14th Feb.

Ilkeston Town 3 OOH Lincoln Ladies 2 AET

Lincoln crashed out of the cup at the last eight stage for the second time in two years, but they only have themsleves to blame. Leading 2-1 with 5 minutes to go, Lincoln switched off and aloud the Ilkeston player space and time to run 25 yards and curl her shot in to the net. Lincoln should have been out of site with the ladyimps hitting the wood work seven times, five off which were in the second half.

The late goal galvernised a tired Ilkeston team, who scrabbled home the winner in the last minute of the first period of extra time.