Firstly, Rage Online would like to apologise for the apparent lack of updates recently – the server on which our site is hosted crashed on Tuesday, and our service provider only partially restored the data. We have now managed to input most of the missing data (Wycombe match report should be back up this evening), but all the recent news updates have, unfortunately been lost and there are still one or two technical issues to be resolved. Nasty emails have been sent, rest assured.

After a nice eight-day break United are back in action tomorrow, with Rushden and Diamonds visiting the Kas. Oxford are on an unbeaten run of six games, while Rushden’s last outing saw them get thrashed 4-1 at home by Mansfield (who went above United as a result). The Us still have a few injury worries, although both David Woozley and Mark E’Beyer played for the reserves on Wednesday afternoon (see below). Chris Hackett is rated 50-50 to play, but hasn’t trained this week and so is unlikely to be considered, while Mark Rawle and Barry Quinn are both definitely out. There are continuing doubts over Lee Bradbury, who missed the Wycombe game, and Leo Roget, who scored in that match.

Rushden are also suffering an injury crisis, to go along with their crisis of confidence, and will probably be fielding a considerably weakened side. Andy Burgess, Sean Connelly, Billy Turley, Daniel Talbot, Gareth Seddon, Robert Duffy and Gary Mills are all definitely out or doubtful, and Rob Gier is suspended after being red-carded in the Mansfield game. Diamonds have a mixed record against the Us. They won 1-0 on their last visit to Oxford, last season in the LDV Vans Trophy, but in their Third Division championship winning season, the year before, United did the double over the Northants side. The season prior to that both clubs won their home games.

Rage Online is quietly confident about tomorrow’s result, but experience has taught us not to get carried away. We therefore urge caution and, while expecting us to do well, we’ll predict a 1-1 draw to be on the safe side.

On Wednesday afternoon United’s reserves played Woking’s reserves at Oxford City’s Court Place Farm. United had by far the better of the first half, and deservedly took the lead through an excellent goal by Craig Davies. The youngster took the ball into the area, then did a little stand-on-the-ball turny-flicky thing before rifling the ball into the far corner. Two minutes later, though, and Woking equalised when the impressive Justin Richards headed home at the back post after a poor pass from Jamie Brooks gave Lee Molyneaux too much to do. Richards was partnered up front by the equally impressive, and very quick, Alex Tiesse, who scored Woking’s winner three minutes from time. Despite the result this was a reasonably good show from the Us, who should have won. Davies shone up front, E’Beyer looked good in the middle, and Jamie Tweed at left back, Molyneaux, and Simon Cox in goal all did well.