IAN Hutchinson included nine local players in his last match-day squad in the Zamaretto Premier Division and with the likes of Ollie Tribe, Sam Clarke and Warren Byerley all impressing on a consistent basis, Weymouth really is becoming a community club.

Tribe, who is still just 18-years old, has been in and around the first team for the last two seasons and has seen a whole host of players and managers come and go.

Now, with Hutchinson and Andy Mason at the helm, he is enjoying the stability in and around the squad and is confident that the club’s recent upturn in fortunes on the pitch can continue.

Tribe told Echosport: “It is great to see the local lads coming through, particularly those who have made the step up from the Dorset Premier League.

“Lewis Whyton came in against Bed-ford at the back and was superb, and Sam has been doing that all season. And when you think both of them were playing for Portland United not so long ago, the fact they have come straight in and produced the type of performances they have is just fantastic.

“We currently have a local team for local people and the fans have been great as well.

“At Didcot, in midweek a couple of weeks ago, over half the crowd was made up of our supporters and that is just fantastic. It is also great to see so many young people coming to the games now and all I can really say is keep coming and keep getting behind us.”

Tribe, who is renowned for his versatility, has been utilised at left back in recent weeks and it appears he is revelling in the role.

He added: “Throughout youth football I always played in the centre of midfield. Then, in the reserves, I was used just about everywhere, and now I am at left-back.

“That came about when Brendon King (reserve-team boss) said to Ian Hutch-inson that he thought I could do a job there and because we did not have many options on that side at the time, he went with me and hopefully I am doing okay.

“I am just trying to be positive in everything I do by putting balls into good areas and trying to get forward to support whenever I can, and I am enjoying it.”

The Terras are unbeaten in their last four league games, and in seven in all competitions at home. However, they have only taken five points from a possible 24 on their travels.

Tribe said: “It was a shame Saturday’s game at Hemel Hempstead was postponed because we desperately want to start taking our home form on the road with us.

“We suffered two heavy defeats at Hednesford Town and Stourbridge but since then the reaction has been great, and hopefully we can take four or six points from the two home games against Banbury and Evesham coming up, to close the gap a little further.”

The Terras remain at the foot of the table, eight points adrift of safety, but had the club not received a 10-point deduction at the start of the season, they would now be lying in 16th spot.

Tribe added: “There is a lot of belief in the team now and a lot of that has come from the management.

“In terms of fitness and ability we have always had what it takes but we are now a lot stronger mentally, and feel no matter where we go we can pick up points.

“In the last few games we have produced some very mature performances for such a young side and we must keep that going now.

“There is a bit of stability around the place, and more importantly there are a lot of leaders on the pitch from the skipper, Tom Manley, at the back, through to Warren Byerley up front.

“Both of them have been fantastic but to be fair everyone is contributing and as long as we keep that spirit and work ethic going, we will stand every of chance of staying up.”