Reid in race to be fit (From Dorset Echo)

Reid in race to be fit

8:50am Friday 4th December 2009

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WEYMOUTH are sweating on the fitness of top scorer Jake Reid ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Essex to face play-off chasing Braintree Town at Cressing Road (3pm).

Reid, who has scored seven times in 14 starts and five substitute appearances this season, has been suffering with the flu.

The Terras are already without the suspended David Obaze, who has picked up five yellow cards, meaning manager Ian Hutch-inson could name the same team that won on their last travels, providing Reid recovers.

“We are hoping Jake will be passed fit for Saturday,” said Hutchinson. “He’s a raw talent, his attitude is first class, he’s willing to die for the cause and his partnership with Josh Llewellyn has blossomed.

“They know what we expect from them now and they have to continue to do that.

“They terrorised Dorchester’s back four and they have to do that week in, week out.”

If Reid doesn’t make it then Carl Foster should be recalled to the starting XI, while Chris Allen will probably take Obaze’s place, after recovering from flu himself in recent weeks.

That means Jamie Frampton is likely to partner captain Scott Brice at the heart of the defence with Rushden loanee Jamie McGuinness switching to his preferred right-back role.

“We go into the game with no pressure on us, no-one is expecting anything again,” added Hutchinson. “Braintree might think it’s going to be a walkover and hopefully they will.

“We have to set up how we have been – it’s all about hard work and commitment.”

Players, management and staff at the Wessex Stadium expect to be paid today, after new owner and chairman George Rolls – who will be at Cressing Road tomorrow – completed the paperwork to unfreeze the club’s bank accounts earlier in the week.

That will be a timely boost ahead of the eight-hour round trip to to face a talented team that lost out in the 2007 Conference South play-off final to Salisbury.

Braintree currently lie just outside the play-offs in eighth position and go into the match on the back of three consecutive Blue Square South draws.

In the midst of that was also a 2-1 loss at Newport County in the FA Trophy, but the Iron have the equal third best home record in the league.

Terras (from): Harrison, McGuinness, Frampton, Brice, Slocombe, Groves, Allen, Rose, Radcliffe, Reid, Llewellyn, Byfield, Allen, Dixon, Foster, Smith.

n Ex-Terra James Coutts is back from the USA but Hutchinson has had no contact with the midfielder about a possible return to the Wessex Stadium.

“I haven’t spoken to Couttsy,” said the Terras’ boss. “He is still looking to play at a higher level I believe so there’s been no contact.

“He’s been training over at Dorchester with his mate Ashley Vickers so he’ll be comfortable there, but we’ll monitor the situation.”

n Weymouth Under-18s will be hosting a fundraiser at the Lazy Lizard on Thursday (7.30pm until midnight).

Hypnotist Rod Stevens and DJ Jay Bee will provide the entertainment at a cost of £10 for adults and £5 for under-21s.

Contact 07774 819104 for more details.

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