GOALS from Harry Pearse and Sam Smart helped Basingstoke Town to their best win of the season, with a 2-1 victory at second placed Weymouth.

Town manager Martin Kuhl made two changes to the side which lost at King’s Langley in midweek, as Sam Argent returned from suspension and Pearse from injury in place of Dan Collier and Zidane Akers.

It was Weymouth who started the game the better, as Yemi Odubade’s header went wide from Josh Wakefield’s free-kick.

Then Tom McGill in the Town goal blocked a shot from Calvin Brooks and Brandon Goodship fired the rebound wide.

On 13 minutes, McGill was called into action again, as he pushed away a low shot from Jake McCarthy.

The visitors hit back and five minutes later took the lead. Pearse was found by Sam Deadfield and he was able to slot the ball under home goalkeeper Thomas McHale.

The Terras came searching for an equaliser and Harry Baker got into the box and fired wide.

Town were forced to make a change as Collier came on to replace the injured Shane Hollamby.

The visitors then tested the home goalie thanks to a shot from Smart, as it remained 1-0 at the break.

After the interval, Town started to dominate the game and Weymouth’s Stephane Zubar nearly put the ball in his own goal.

Town came close to making it 2-0 on 58 minutes when Pearse played in Argent and only a good save from McHale denied the striker a goal.

However, Basingstoke did double their lead two minutes later, as Argent this time played in Smart and he fired home.

After this Weymouth felt they should have had a penalty for a challenge on Odubade by Rob Gerrard, but nothing was given.

Then in the third minute of added on time, the home side spoiled McGill’s clean sheet as Brooks pulled a goal back.

Spurred on by this Weymouth tried to get an equaliser, with Goodship coming closest in the final minutes, but Town held on to win 2-1.

The victory moved Town up to 17th and they will hope to continue their rise in the table on Tuesday night, when Salisbury are the visitors.