LEON BEST maintained his great start to the new season last night.

The Saints striker grabbed a superb winner as the reserves triumphed 3-2 at Fulham.

In the opening reserve match a fortnight ago Best struck a hat-trick in a 4-1 win at Derby.

Saints were 2-0 up at half-time last night through a 20-yard Simon Gillett free-kick and a goal from Dexter Blackstock.

The former Oxford United striker celebrated his first start of the season following summer groin surgery by netting the rebound after a Gillett shot was blocked.

Fulham hit back to level in the second half through an Adam Green penalty and Lee Hall.

But Best, pictured above, gave Saints victory when he curled a superb left-foot shot into the top corner from 18 yards.

Saints Res: Paul Smith, Eddie Anaclet, Martin Cranie, Stuart Anderson, Matthew Mills, Chris MacDonald, Arron Davies, Dexter Blackstock, Leon Best, Simon Gillett, Andrew Surman. Subs: Kyle Critchell, Andrew McNeil, Tim Sparv, Nathan Dyer, David McGoldrick.

Referee Andy D'Urso has been suspended for 28 days following his blunder in Saints' match with Blackburn on August 21.

D'Urso cautioned Rovers midfielder Barry Ferguson twice but did not send him off in the Barclays Premiership match which Saints won 3-2 through a controversial last-minute penalty from James Beattie.

He faced a Football Association investigation and the FA's referees committee imposed the suspension when it was found didn't apply the Laws of the Game.