STEPHEN Reed has set his sights on helping Weymouth beat the Blue Square South drop after agreeing to extend his loan from Macclesfield Town.

With his playing time limited at the League Two side – his only game for the Silkmen being the 4-2 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat at Carlisle United back in October – the 24-year-old opted to remain at the Terras until May.

Two derby dates and four points since he initially signed for a month, the midfielder cannot understand why the seasiders are rooted to the foot of the table but is confident they will stay up.

“I don’t understand what they were doing earlier in the season but from the goalkeeper through the right-back, left-back and centre- backs to the midfielders and strikers it’s all positive,” said Reed. “There’s a great belief, from the captain, manager and Andy Mason. The lads are all positive and everyone is clearly working hard.”

The former Yeovil, Torquay and Cambridge United player, who can also operate at left back or on the left-hand side of midfield, was at Weymouth last year.

But with the club trying to force its way towards the play-offs, financial uncertainty pulled the rug from under their feet and they tumbled down into the Blue Square South.

However, his move to Maccles-field proved to be a difficult time and he returned to the south coast on loan where he has since featured in both the league derby games against Dorchester and was named man of the match for the fixture between the two at the Wessex Stadium.

“It was a little bit frustrating at Macclesfield so it was a chance for me to come in at Weymouth, do well, get some more points on the board and hopefully keep us up,” he said. “We’ve got a great team spirit, the lads are decent and working hard and had a bit of bad luck along the way.

“I’ve been there for the two Dorchester games and we’ve got four points, which has been a big help.

“I like it in central midfield, I’m enjoying it and hopefully we can win a few games so the crowd will come back.

“We got more than 2,000 for the Dorchester game and even if we had 1,000 it’s good to play in front of that many people.”

However, with cold weather setting in since the turn of the year, Reed and Weymouth have been unable to build on that 2-0 victory and have seen two Dorset Senior Cup matches against Gillingham Town and last Saturday’s Blue Square South trip to Welling United all postponed.

With two massive games coming up against fellow strugglers Worcester City and Lewes, it is important Weymouth get back on the pitch quickly.

“It is a big month and we do need to win those games,” said Reed. “If we beat the teams around us we will be fine.

“A couple of games have been postponed but I’m just enjoying playing football, no matter what level it’s at.”