GARY Hart gave new Albion manager Micky Adams a winning start with a wonder goal.

The Seagulls' young striker finished off a sparkling run by hammering home his 12th of the season.

Hart's tremendous 19th minute strike decided an untidy tussle against fellow-strugglers Shrewsbury, played in difficult conditions.

Chairman Dick Knight has stated he would reject a £500,000 offer for the marksman snapped up from Essex League Stansted for a bargain £1,000 last summer, and on this evidence it is easy to see why.

Albion had to work hard for their victory and Adams knows there is plenty of work to do. But the Seagulls have at least ensured their survival and ended a record-equalling run of six straight 'home' defeats.

Albion, playing into a strong wind and driving rain, threatened inside the opening minute.

Hart gave them a freak lead at Plymouth on Saturday when the home keeper drove an attempted clearance against him.

Moralee and Shrewsbury keeper Edwards were involved in a carbon copy incident, although this time the ball ricocheted wide of the goal.

Berkley forced Ormerod into a smothering early save with a low shot from just inside the box when the Seagulls failed to clear their lines.

McPherson, captaining the side following Saturday's omission of Ian Culverhouse and the accompanying switch from the sweeper system to 4-4-2, made several firm and effective challenges as Albion battled against the elements.

Hart, who scored in Albion's 3-1 win at Shrewsbury in November, did the trick again on 19 minutes with a sparkling finish to a move which covered the length of the pitch.

Ormerod's wind-hampered goal-kick was headed on by Bennett and helped on cleverly by Moralee to HHART midway inside the Shrewsbury half.

The former Stansted flyer ended a dazzling run by cracking an angled right foot drive from 12 yards which beat Edwards into the far corner.

Hart's third goal in as many games owed much to his blistering pace and determination and the awareness of strike partner Moralee.

Shrewsbury came close to an equaliser ten minutes later, the pint-sized Steele's glancing header from Brown's centre skidding just wide of the far post.

Moralee blotted his copybook with an unnecessary challenge from behind on Jobling just outside the Albion area. It earned the match-winning hero of the Plymouth triumph the first caution of the contest.

Brown had his name taken as well four minutes later when he interrupted the live wire Hart's progress down the left flank.

Hart was causing a rather ponderous visiting defence all sorts of problems with his speed and movement.

Another lightning break by the goalscorer was ruined when Ryan, replacing the suspended Duncan McArthur, overhit his cross for Minton at the far post.

Hart was in the thick of the action again five minutes before the break, setting up Arnott for a low left-foot drive which Edwards saved comfortably.

Albion put together another promising move approaching the interval. Arnott and Mayo combined passes, forcing Tretton into a stretching tackle to thwart Moralee.

Shrewsbury came close to levelling on the stroke of half-time, the back-pedalling Ormerod clawing away Jobling's free-kick from wide on the left for a corner when the wind looked like blowing it in.

Shrewsbury skipper Jobling was a little fortunate to escape a yellow card when he tripped the surging Minton early into the restart.

Mayo and Minton set up Arnott for a long range effort from the resulting free-kick which almost deflected off the defensive wall into Ryan's path.

The Seagulls fallibility at set pieces almost proved expensive yet again isn the 53rd minute.

The unmarked Brown's firm header at the far post from Hanmer's corner produced a fine one-handed parry by Ormerod, diving to his left.

Although Albion were in front, Shrewsbury had so far created more chances.

They were by no means out of it, despite having the worst away record in the Third Division.

You had to go back to Exeter in November for the last of their only two away victories.

Adams decided to make a change on 62 minutes, Sturgess replacing Ryan on the left side of midfield.

Albion had to wait until the 66th minute to force the first of two corners in swift succession.

The second followed a free-kick from a tight angle by the impressive Mayo, which was headed behind by Seabury.

Shrewsbury brought on giant striker White in place of Kerrigan with 20 minutes left.

We saw the suspect side of the enigmatic Ormerod shortly afterwards when he unaccountably spilled a harmless cross by Hanmer. Fortunately for the keeper Shrewsbury could not capitalise on the blunder.

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