Northwich Victoria visit Oxford tomorrow for their first ever game in this fair city, as United look to continue their 100 percent start to the season. The Vics have had a mixed start to the season, losing both their home matches, but winning their first game of the season 1-0 at Cambridge United. Like Oxford, Northwich are a former League team, although only for two seasons, and you would have to go back over 100 years, to 1893/94 season, for their last season at that level. In that year they finished bottom of the Second Division (out of two), failing to gain an away point.

There is good news and bad news for United manager Jim Smith. The good news is that Chris Willmott is available for selection for the first time this season, having completed his three-game ban following his sending off against Orient in the final match of last season. Barry Quinn is also available again after he missed the game at Burton Albion because of his dismissal at Dagenham & Redbridge. The bad news is that John Dempster has suffered a groin strain and will miss both the Northwich and the Weymouth games over this weekend. In addition, Smith has also revealed that he has missed out on a striker that he was hoping to sign this week, most probably Chris Zebroski, who was sacked by Plymouth Argyle a couple of weeks ago. More positive news for Dempster is that both he and Yemi Odubade have been selected by Paul Fairclough for the England National Game XI to play Forest Green Rovers on 5 September. Smith is likely to recall Quinn to the defence, and leave Chris Hargreaves in midfield in order to cater for Dempster’s absence, while Willmott will have to wait patiently on the bench, alongside Eddie Hutchinson.

Many Oxford fans will probably be expecting United to win this game at a canter, but Rage Online urges caution. Northwich may not be the best footballing side in the league, but they will certainly be prepared to make Oxford’s players aware of their presence. The Vics will be hampered by the absence of striker Chris Williams, who broke his leg in their 1-0 home defeat by Kidderminster on Saturday, and they have also just missed out on an attempt to sign midfielder Danny Boshell. Rage Online concurs with the majority view that this is a game Oxford should win, and we’re going to stick our necks out and, in an unlikely turn of events, predict a 2-0 win for the Yellows. However, don’t blame us if it all turns sour.