Talking Torquay

United travel to South Devon on Saturday to take on fifth placed Torquay in a game that United really have to get something from to keep up with the pack chasing the third automatic promotion place. Following postponements of their last two scheduled fixtures Oxford players and supporters will be desparately hoping that this game goes ahead, and the weather forecast is certainly encouraging.

Dave Waterman will be looking forward to getting back to first team football following Christian Edwards' less than successful loan spell, and Bobby Ford will be hoping to start in midfield, possibly shifting Roy Hunter to right wingback in place of Scott McNiven. Up front Lee Steele will still be hopeful of making his first start for the club, although Ian Atkins might think that this isn't the match to start making line-up changes. Following his performance for the reserves yesterday ROS Chris Hackett should be awarded a place on the bench, as should Jefferson Louis and possibly Dean Whitehead.

Torquay will be giving a debut to Simon Clist, signed on loan from Bristol City reserves. They also feature Martin Gritton, who played one game on trial for United at Oxford City in this season's pre-season friendly, and Tony Bedeau who was a target of the club a couple of seasons ago.

Despite the importance of this game, and the fact that last Saturday Torquay lost at Kidderminster, we think that the task will be beyond our favourite Yellows, who will go down 2-1 at Plainmoor. We won't make a prediction on the Raging Fever match that will take place in the morning at Paignton Leisure Centre. Although we beat Barnstaple Gulls 11-0 before this season's home game (which ended 2-2 after the Us were 2-0 down, you may recall) this will be a 5-a-side game and anything can happen.

Rage On Alert

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