KEEPER Jason Matthews will return between the sticks for Weymouth when they host high-flying Basingstoke Town tonight, 7.45pm, writes Matt Pitman.

The former Salisbury City was left out of Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Carshalton Athletic, with player-boss Steve Claridge preferring Millwall loanee Terry Masterson instead.

That decision came back to haunt the Terras manager as Masterson had a howler, gifting the lowly visitors their second goal.

With the former Ireland international having his loan stay cut short, Matthews returns to the number one jersey against the impressive Hampshire side tonight in the Nationwide South.

Claridge told Echosport: "Jason will play tonight in what is a really big game for us. A lot of things have been said after that weekend

disappointment against Carshalton and tonight is the ideal time for us to start showing what we are made of.

"Aside from Jason coming back in, I'm also mulling over a few other things and there is a good chance that there could be a few changes tonight.

"I don't want too say too much about what they are at the moment but the bottom line is, like I said at the weekend, the players are running out of time to put things right.

"The annoying thing about Saturday was we could easily have won 10-2 had it not been for the Carshalton keeper.

"There have been quite a few games like that this season, which we ended up losing narrowly. Realistically we should have had ten more points on the board then we have, but now we have got to start getting wins on the board."

And Claridge today urged his defence to keep things tight against Ernie Howe's second place side, who have won eight of their ten outings this term.

"Basingstoke are going to be a real test that's for sure," he said.

"Our defence will probably have plenty of work to do but all I am asking them is stop our opponents scoring a goal.

"I don't want them to be Rio Ferdinand back there, I just want them to do their job.

"They are good players, I know that, but they need to start showing it."