Oxford visit Tamworth tomorrow, and the necessity to change their run of form has never been stronger. United now lie four points behind Conference leaders Stevenage Borough, who play Kidderminster Harriers in the second leg of their FA Trophy semi-final today, holding a 5-1 lead from the first leg at Aggborough. Tomorrow sees United use up their game in hand on Stevenage, who also boast a far superior goal difference, and United must feel that a win at the Lamb is crucial to keep their title challenge on track.

United could be boosted by the return of injured trio James Constable, Adam Murray, and Alfie Potter, all of whom are important components in a United side that has had trouble achieving any sort of consistency since the weather-enforced mid-winter break. Also in contention after missing last weekend's 1-1 draw with Kettering Town is Chris Hargreaves, although the aged midfielder may find it difficult to dislodge either Dannie Bulman or Lewis Chalmers. Adam Chapman may be preferred to Damian Batt, who has been struggling with form recently and, while Franny Green scored an excellent goal and had a good match against his former side last Saturday, he may well find himself dropped for the pacier Matt Green, especially if Constable is fit to start.

Tamworth, who became the first side to win a Conference game at the United Stadium this season when they won 1-0 on 16 January due to an uncharacteristic error from Ryan Clarke, have a couple of selection problems. They are missing Chris Smith, who serves the second game of a two-match ban, while injuries deprive them of Nick Wright and ex-U Michael Blackwood. On their only other visit to the Lamb, United won 3-1 in February 2007.

Although neither Stevenage nor Oxford are in league action today, there are some significant Conference games taking place. Third-placed Luton Town will overtake Oxford should they win at Ebbsfleet United, although they will have played three games more than the Us. Rushden & Diamonds, currently in fourth place and United's opponents on Wednesday, visit Altrincham, while fifth-placed York City host AFC Wimbledon, who are currently seventh. Kettering, who are sixth but unlikely to be able to partake of the play-offs because of security-of-tenure issues with their ground, host relegation-bound Forest Green Rovers.

In other news, Oxford are one of ten Conference clubs who are appealing to the FA about the Conference Board's decision to have Chester City's results expunged. They are arguing that a fairer solution would be to allow previous results to stand and to award those clubs who had yet to play Chester three points instead. Rage Online is characteristically neutral on this matter; we can see the merits of both solutions. However, our main concern is that United do the business on the pitch, so that these issues become irrelevant.

United also announced yesterday that six second-year scholars will not be offered professional contracts when their scholarship expires at the end of the season. The hapless sextet are Adam Bowerman, James Dobson, Niall Hodgkins, Imani Likita, Marvin Martin, and Jack Smith. It will be interesting to see how the lads react in their home game against Yeovil Town at Iffley Road this morning. [@opponent]tamworth[/@opponent][@connection]tamworth[/@connection]