We should find out shortly after 1.00 this afternoon whether or not the efforts of supporters, officials, youth players, and others will be repaid with some football action this evening. Several dozen people turned out at the Kas yesterday to clear the pitch and covers of snow and to make the car parks usable. A pitch inspection is planned this afternoon to determine whether this evening's FA Trophy second round game against Woking will proceed. Most of the pitch was playable, although there were still some areas that were frozen, and with overnight temperatures being low and today's not expected to climb above freezing there still has to be some doubt that the game will take place.

The winners of the tie will have an away game at either Chelmsford City or Crawley Town. Their second round clash was postponed for the second time yesterday and has been rearranged for next Monday, 18 January. Weather, and rearranged ties, permitting the third round is scheduled for Saturday 30 January, when Oxford are due to play Wrexham in the Conference. If tonight's game can't proceed then it will be rescheduled for next Tuesday, when Oxford are due to have a rearranged Conference game against Hayes & Yeading United.

If the game does get played tonight, then Oxford are likely to field a reasonably strong side, given the lack of football over the past few weeks. Three players are set to make their United debuts, with midfielder Lee Fowler and defenders Jake Wright and Anthony Tonkin all having joined in recent days. In addition, the other regular first team players will be wanting match practice ahead of Saturday's Conference game at home to Tamworth (weather permitting, etc).

Woking will be without ex-U Jamie Hand, who is suspended, but could give a debut to new signing Jamie Slabber, who was so desperately poor when he was at Grenoble Road. Woking have never beaten United at the Kas, but then United have yet to beat Woking here as well. All three home fixtures have finished goalless, including the game on Boxing Day 2006, which drew a record Conference attendance of 11,065. It is a tad unlikely that tonight's gate will approach that, even if the game does get played. [@opponent]woking[/@opponent] [@connection]woking[/@connection]