United welcome [@opponent]Halifax Town[/@opponent]Halifax Town tomorrow, in the second round of the FA Trophy, a competition which may or may not have a Wembley final this season. It was thanks to Tuesday's 1-0 win over Lewes, in their first round replay, that Oxford won through to the second round, with Rob Duffy scoring a first-half penalty[@news]2043[/@news]. Oxford last played the Shaymen in the first game of the season, on 12 August, [@report]256[/@report]when they won 2-0 thanks to a Duffy penalty and an Andy Burgess 30 yarder. The third round takes place on Saturday 3 February, when the Us are scheduled to play Cambridge United at Grenoble Road.

Jim Smith is likely to make one or two (or more) changes to the side that beat Lewes. Both Danny Rose and Georges Santos are eligible to play in the second round, and both will probably start. Santos is likely to replace either Matt Day or John Dempster, neither of whom shone in defence on Tuesday, given the continued absence of Phil Gilchrist and Chris Willmott, the latter of whom has now been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Rose may well replace Yemi Odubade in midfield, with the pacey striker either moving up front in place of either Duffy or Marvin Robinson, or reverting to his usual place on the bench. Alternatively, Smith may take this opportunity to rest Carl Pettefer, or to take Gavin Johnson out of the midfield, which is not his natural position.

Halifax have had a much poorer season than was anticipated, as they were among the favourites for promotion at the start of the season following their play-off adventure last year. However, they have a very poor away record, and haven't scored on the road since they lost 3-2 at Northwich on 4 November. In the first round of the FA Trophy they beat Hyde United 3-1. One former United player who currently plies his trade at the Shay is [@player]Campbell, Andy[/@player]Andy Campbell, who played (of sorts) for Oxford on loan from Cardiff for a few games last season, making absolutely no impact whatsoever, even for the reserves. However, he hasn't played since 3 October, when he scored (yes, he scored) in Halifax's 2-0 win over Kidderminster. Given United's current poor run of form, and given Halifax's current poor run of form, this game will probably end goalless, but just to be contrary, we're going to predict a 2-0 defeat for Oxford. The Yellows haven't lost at home yet this season, and if that record is going to go, then this is as good a game as any to blow it.

Other games of interest in the Trophy, well there aren't any really, but Conference leaders Dagenham & Redbridge visit Redditch, and United's next league opponents, Grays Athletic, travel to Weston-super-Mare. In the Conference itself there are two games, with Aldershot hosting Crawley, and Cambridge playing Stafford Rangers.