United visit Cambridge United this evening, in a game that has been rearranged from tomorrow at the request of the local Babylon dem. Unfortunately, this is likely to have the desired effect of significantly reducing the travelling following, thus robbing many United supporters of seeing their team in action, and denying the home side some much needed funds. Despite this typical short-sighted policy of the local police force, the Us will be looking to extend their unbeaten record to 17 games, which will equal the club record for an unbeaten league run in one season (set as recently as three seasons ago). Although a draw might be considered a decent result from a Cambridge side that has markedly improved since Jimmy Quinn was appointed manager, United need to win to prevent Dagenham & Redbridge from overtaking them at the top, the Daggers having a much easier game at home to Kidderminster tomorrow.

Jim Smith will definitely be making some changes to the side that was held to a disappointing draw by Altrincham on Saturday. Leading scorer, and former Cambridge player, Rob Duffy is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season at Kidderminster. Steve Basham, who was on the bench on Saturday despite not being fit enough to play, will hopefully have recovered to take his place alongside Yemi Odubade. Marvin Robinson is still injured, and while Billy Beechers scored for the reserves on Wednesday, he will probably only be on the bench. Chris Willmott returns from his one-game ban, and is likely to go straight into the team following John Dempster’s shakey game against Altrincham. Rufus Brevett should also be fit enough to return, but whether he will be preferred to Matt Day remains to be seen. Finally, Gavin Johnson played 80 minutes for the reserves in their defeat by Ipswich on Wednesday, and could be an option for a place on the bench.

Cambridge have a couple of ex-Us among their number, with Courtney Pitt and Rob Wolleaston hoping to show United that they are both better than their brief periods at Oxford suggested. The Plate are old adversaries from both Southern League and Football League days. The sides have a remarkably consistent record, both having won seven games, with eight draws, and both having scored 27 goals. The average attendance at the Abbey is 4,456, but that is unlikely to be maintained this evening. Rage Online’s prediction is that the symmetry will continue today, with the sides sharing the points in yet another 1-1 draw.