Big changes behind the scenes this Easter at United, as long-term youth team coach Darren Patterson has received the promotion that many felt was his due, stepping up to become assistant manager, with the current incumbent, Andy Awford, being relieved of his duties. Also going is reserve team coach Shaun North, whose duties will presumably fall Patterson's way, especially as most reserve team matches seem to be exercises for his youth team anyway. The Oxford Mail has also stated that United's reserves will be withdrawn from the Pontin's League next season, presumably with the aim of finding more appropriate and more frequent opposition.

It is currently unclear how these changes are going to affect preparations for United's match at Northwich Victoria on Saturday[@opponent]Northwich Victoria[/@opponent]. Oxford are currently unbeaten in their last four games, but the last three have all been drawn. They are now only clinging on to second place by just one point from Morecambe, although their play-off place looks to be reasonably secure, especially given the intermittent form of the remaining challengers.[@connection]Northwich Victoria[/@connection]

One of Patterson's first tasks will be to help Jim Smith select the side for Saturday's game. It looks like both Gavin Johnson and Andy Burgess will be fit, despite both going off injured against Burton Albion last week, which is good news (except for Matt Day). There are also choices to be made in midfield, where Carl Pettefer will be hoping for a recall, and up front, where United's strikers need to start converting their chances if they are to hit the play offs on the back of a decent run.

The Vics have won their last two games as they attempt to climb away from the relegation places. They are now 15th, four points above fourth-bottom Tamworth, but thanks to their run to the FA Trophy semi-final they still have four, and in some cases five, games in hand on their rivals. The downside of this is that they have a fixture backlog that could come back to haunt them. Their last home game was a 4-0 defeat by Cambridge United. When they visited Minchery Farm on 26 August, United beat them 5-1 in a one-sided game,[@report]261[/@report] and will be hopeful of a repeat. Rage Online concedes that this is highly unlikely, but we do think United are capable of a narrow victory, possibly 1-0.

There is a full Conference programme on Saturday, and leaders Dagenham & Redbridge could seal the title should they beat ninth-placed Aldershot. If Oxford don't beat Northwich then Morecambe could go second, but they have a tough trip to Stevenage Borough, who have play-off ambitions of their own, being in eighth place, six points behind Burton but with a game in hand. The big game of the day is at the Pirelli Stadium, where fifth-placed Burton host York, one place and one point above them, although the Minstermen have played one game more. Exeter, one point below Burton, are visited by fourth-bottom Tamworth. Gravesend & Northfleet, who are seventh, host Forest Green Rovers and Weymouth, who are United's next opponents on Easter Monday, are at home to Kidderminster, one place below them in 11th. None of the other teams are likely to feature in the play-off finale.

Meanwhile, we have to report that essential maintenance work on the servers that host Rage Online means that the site will be offline tomorrow and on Saturday morning. We hope that it will be live again in time for people to use the Chatroom facility during the Northwich match.