A TRIO of terrific strikes from Basingstoke Town helped them to 3-2 victory over visiting Bishop's Stortford.

For the first time since anyone can remember Town were unchanged for this game and started the better of the two sides.

In the eighth minute, only the woodwork denied them an opening goal as George Bennett's 25-yard free-kick crashed back off the post.

The visitors then nearly scored, but the excellent Dan Bayliss denied Mark Hughes, after Guri Demuria lost the ball to Max Brassington.

Bennett then curled a shot just wide, before the home side took the lead on 21 minutes.

Sam Smart cruised past Chad Cruse out on the right and sent a lovely cross in which Callum Bunting converted with a swooping header.

Town deservedly doubled their advantage just before the break, as this time Bunting went down the right and his square ball, was stepped over by Jack McKnight and this allowed Smart to stroll into the area and pick his spot.

After the break, nothing happen until after former Reading star Jamie Cureton came on for the visitors.

Stortford reshuffled their line-up and new left back Tom Clifford was soon in trouble as he was nut negged by Smart, but his shot came off the outside of the post.

At this point, the home side started to concede a number of free-kicks wide on the right.

The first one bounced straight through the area, but the next from Darren Foxley was headed in at the near post by Hughes on 67 minutes.

It looked like Town were in for a very long 23 minutes, but the tension was eased on 73 minutes, when Tim Wohfiel pushed the ball down the right wing for Smart.

He cut inside and found Deadfield who from just outside the area fired low into the bottom of the net.

However, Town conceded another couple of free-kicks in dangerous position and from one of them Alfie Mason's header was deflected over.

From the resulting corner with five minutes left, Marvel Ekpiteta scored to set up a nervous finale, but Town got their deserved win and move up to tenth in the table.

Afterwards manager Terry Brown said: "I thought we were magnificent in the first half and could have had three or four.

"The second half was always going to be different, but I was disappointed with the way we defended and the number of free kicks we gave away.

"They were not hurting us just sending crosses in during open play, so maybe we would have been better not to take the foul as we were hurt from dead ball situations."

Town are next in action on Saturday at Stratford.