A supercharged start by Albion was rewarded in just the seventh minute at Withdean, with Rogers' first goal since April 10.

Oatway's cross found the captain unmarked eight yards out.

His back-header was blocked by Prenderville and the Oldham defender did superbly well to block his follow-up as well, but Rogers made no mistake at the third attempt.

Albion did not have to wait too long to double their advantage.

Steele, under pressure from Prenderville, somehow clipped the ball over Kelly into the far corner of the net with his left foot from a seemingly impossible angle.

All Oldham could offer by way of response was a shot over the bar by Tipton from 20 yards.

There was just no stopping the Seagulls and they went 3-0 ahead in the 28th minute.

Zamora spearheaded a rapid break, running at Balmer before providing a perfectly timed diagonal pass for Steele, speeding through the inside left channel.

Steele's first shot was kept out one-handed by Kelly, but the former Shrewsbury front man converted the rebound from a difficult angle for his fourth goal in as many games.

It was scintillating stuff from the Seagulls and the Oldham defence simply had no answer to the pace of Steele and Zamora.

Albion were forced into a substitution with nine minutes of the half remaining, Pitcher replacing the injured Oatway.

Oldham also made a change a minute later, Rickers coming on for Prenderville.

Balmer was booked two minutes from the break for a handball which prevented Zamora's pass putting Steele clear.

Watson curled the ensuing free-kick from 20 yards out against the underside of the crossbar, with Kelly diving across his goal and Sheridan on the line.

The revised chant from the fans was now "Peter Taylor's blue and white army" in recognition of an outstanding first-half performance.

Oldham made a second substitution on 53 minutes, Dudley replacing Corrazzin.

Substitute Pitcher was only just too high with a dipping volley when another Watson corner was headed clear to him 25 yards out.

The Seagulls were not surprisingly finding it more difficult to emulate their exploits of the first half as Oldham hunted a goal to give themselves hope.

Kuipers kept out a volley by McNiven from an acute angle beyond the far post following a deep cross by Eyres before the visitors made their final substitution, Richards replacing Tipton.

Steele was given a standing ovation when he was substituted in the closing stages by Dirk Lehmann.