United welcome St Albans City tonight, as the Us bid to return to the top of the Conference table. The game was originally scheduled for tomorrow, but was moved to the Friday night for no real sensible reason. However, that shouldn’t prevent a reasonably sized crowd from attending, even if the crowd will still be significantly lower than if it had been held at the proper time.

Jim Smith, joint Manager of the Month in the Conference for August, has one new player to display following the deadline for transfers at midnight last night. Striker Marvin Robinson has joined the club from bottom-of-the-league Macclesfield Town, where he has played six games without scoring. Hardly overwhelming statistics, but Robbo III could yet prove to be the player required to lift Oxford out of the Conference. He may even get his first start this evening, as Steve Basham is ruled out with the dodgy hamstring that he picked up at Weymouth on Monday, although that injury isn’t as bad as was feared at first. Smith also has John Dempster back in the squad after he missed both Bank Holiday Weekend games, also with a dicky hamstring. There are no obvious candidates to be dropped from the team that drew at Weymouth, and so Dempster may have to settle for a place on the bench, possibly alongside Yemi Odubade if Smith does start with Robinson.

St Albans, like Northwich and Burton, are part-timers, and achieved promotion from the Conference South last season by winning the play-offs. They are, reputedly, a tough, physical side, and so United may have their work cut out tonight. Saint Albans have two new players: defender Magnus Okuonghae, from Rushden, and Damian Batt, latterly of Barnet. This is a game that, realistically, United should win. Although it could be a potential banana skin, the team is thoroughly professional these days, and will be aware that teams like St Albans have to be beaten if United’s ambition to be champions is to be realised. However, like other sides, it might not be until the last twenty minutes or so, when Oxford’s superior fitness kicks in, that the difference will be made. That said, Rage Online’s prediction, uncharacteristically optimistic once again, is for a 3-1 win to United. Is that hysterical laughter we hear?