Martin Hinshelwood presided over his second win as Albion manager, but the result raised more questions for the new boss than answers.

Steve Melton scored the only goal in the 50th minute of last night's pre-season friendly after good link-up play with Shaun Wilkinson but Seagulls struggled to assert their supremacy against their hosts from the Ryman League.

Hinshelwood changed the entire team at half time, just as he did during Tuesday's 4-1 win at Worthing.

He played a seemingly stronger side for the first period, with stalwarts such as Danny Cullip, Charlie Oatway and Paul Brooker starting, but they created only two clear opportunities, neither of which were converted.

In the second period though, a less experienced team were more dynamic and the likes of Nathan Jones and Melton pressed their claims for regular first team football with impressive displays.

Melton took his chance well and the young strike partnership of Wilkinson and Chris McPhee caused the hosts numerous problems.

Hinshelwood is searching for a strike partner for ace marksman Bobby Zamora and also a centre back to replace Simon Morgan, who has retired He experimented with team selection last night to give various members of his squad an opportunity to impress.

There were no new faces, much to the disappointment of the 100 or so visiting fans.

Bradley Allen, on trial from Grimsby, started in attack, as he during the victory at Woodside Road.

Hinshelwood partnered him with Danny Marney, as he continued to assess his attacking options in the absence of the injured Zamora, who watched from the sidelines with broken leg victim Gary Hart.

Will Packham got the nod in goal and Cullip and Adam Virgo played at the heart of defence alongside regular fullbacks Paul Watson and Kerry Mayo.

Paul Rogers led out the Seagulls on his return to Gander Green Lane, where he first made a name for himself as a non-league player with Sutton during their famous FA Cup run of 1989.

Packham was called into action in the ninth minute when he prevented what would have been a disastrous own goal from Watson.

Matt Hanlan wriggled free down the right and crossed a harmless ball which Watson attempted to guide back to his goalkeeper.

But the backpass was over-hit and Packham had to backpeddle furiously to tip the ball behind for a corner.

Sutton enjoyed the better of the opening period and four minutes later Craig Brown hit the side netting with a low shot following a neat pull back from Kevin Cooper.

Albion's first chance was a long-range effort from Paul Brooker which never looked likely to trouble Tom Dunn in the Sutton goal.

Geoff Pitcher, playing on the right of midfield, stayed down for treatment in the 25th minute when he was clattered on the goalline attempting to convert Brooker's cross.

The diminutive midfielder went down clutching his back but recovered to return to the action.

The temporary numerical disadvantage did nothing to hinder Albion's efforts and Mayo flashed a shot inches over the bar while Pitcher was hobbling back on.

Albion were slowly asserting their supremacy and the lively Brooker cut inside and crashed a right-foot shot wide before Marney spurned the best chance of the half. He seemed sure to break the deadlock when he cut inside onto his left foot but his finish was poor and Dunn made an easy save at his feet.

Within five minutes of the re-start, Albion seized the lead with a clinical finish from Melton. The midfielder was released into the box by Wilkinson and he ran on to crash a firm right-foot finish high into the net from near the penalty spot.

The goal gave Albion confidence and they carved out more opportunities than during the first half.

Wilkinson shot wide and was then foiled by a smart save from Dunn as he latched on to McPhee's cross from the right.

The energetic Jones was denied by another piece of good goalkeeping by Dunn when he threatened to double the score minutes later.

Daniel Beck came on for the last 15 minutes, necessitating a re-shuffle. Left-back Dean Hammond moved inside and Jones dropped back to replace him, with Beck slotting in at left midfield.

Sutton: Dunn, Beale, Hollands (Shannon 65) Mison, Gonsalves, Honey, Gray, Brown, Cooper (Fowler 45), Hanlan, Bailey.

Albion (first half): Packham, Watson, Mayo, Cullip, Virgo, Pitcher, Marney, Rogers, Allen, Oatway, Brooker.

Second half: Kuipers, Pethick, Harding (Beck 75), Hinshelwood, Hammond, Carpenter, Lee, Melton, McPhee, Wilkinson, Jones.

Referee: Barry Gale