Staying put (From Dorset Echo)

Staying put

8:40am Saturday 12th December 2009 in Club News

THERE was never any question of Jake Reid leaving Weymouth, the Terras’ top scorer insisted ahead of today’s FA Trophy clash with Salisbury City (3pm).

Weston-super-Mare made a seven-day approach for the target man, but that has been rebuffed out of hand by the eight-goal hitman.

Reid is now looking forward to this afternoon’s match against higher-league opposition as he plots to shoot down the Terras’ southern rivals.

“I’m staying, 100 per cent,” he said. “Weston showed interest and wanted to sign me and throw some money at me, but that isn’t really my main motivation.

“I’m a Weymouth player and we have a job to do because we have some big games coming up.

“Myself and all the other players want to be part of that.”

Reid’s eight goals have come in 15 starts and five substitute appearances this season, and the in-form striker has bagged half of those in his last five games, netting against Poole Town, Bishop’s Stortford, Dorchester Town and Braintree Town.

His upturn in form is just one of a number of pointers towards a much-improved Weymouth side.

“We’ve turned the corner,” said Reid. “If we had this group of players at the start of the season we wouldn’t be bottom of the table and I think we will be surprising a few teams.”

The next chance Weymouth will have to increase their points tally of 10 will be next weekend at home to Braintree, but Blue Square Premier side Salisbury are in the Terras’ sights this afternoon with £5,000 and a place in the second round of the FA Trophy at stake.

Reid said: “All the players are buzzing for that game, they are 100 per cent confident that we can do something.

“We have been playing well and even though we lost last weekend we would be foolish not to think we can cause an upset.”

Meanwhile, Weymouth manager Ian Hutchinson has secured two transfer boosts ahead of the Salisbury game.

He agreed a deal with Rushden to extend Jamie McGuinness’ loan for another month and has also been able to bring in Scott Bennett from League One side Exeter City.

Hutchinson spoke with the Grecians’ first team coach Andy Tillson, who was assistant manager at Weymouth at the start of the season, about signing the 19-year-old defender/midfielder and was able to agree a month-long deal.

“We’ve got Jamie for another month, which is a positive step and good news,” said Hutchinson. “We have also pushed through a deal to get Scott Bennett, an Exeter lad.

“We have high hopes for him. He’s a centre half come central midfielder – that’s an area we’ve been looking at and he’ll be a great asset.”

Teenage defender Jamie Frampton missed Thursday’s training session through illness but is expected to recover in time to feature today.

N Ticket prices for this afternoon’s match are £11 for adults, £7 for concessions (over-60s/students), £4 for under-16s and £2 to transfer to a seat in the stand.

N Weymouth will have a match on Tuesday (7.45pm), no matter what today’s result is.

If it ends a draw then the Terras will travel to Salisbury for a FA Trophy replay.

However, if the first round tie is settled this afternoon then a trip to Gillingham Town in the quarterfinals of the Dorset Senior Cup will provide the evening’s entertainment.