Charlie Oatway made an immediate return to the starting line-up for Albion against Kidderminster Harriers.

His comeback from suspension at the expense of Nathan Jones was the only line-up change.

The game began in bright sunshine and Albion could have no complaints about the firm pitch.

Most of the early action was restricted to midfield, with no hint of a swift breakthrough at either end.

Kidderminster's French leftback Medou-Otye was lectured by referee Pugh for tugging the counter-attacking Hart after a Harriers raid broke down.

Pugh then had words with midfield rivals Rogers and Horne as they tangled just inside the Kidderminster half.

Foster collected the first caution of the contest on 16 minutes. He could have no complaints after a reckless challenge on Brooker on the halfway line right in front of the dugouts.

Cullip, sent off at Brentford in midweek, was at the centre of a first-half scare for the Seagulls.

Kidderminster appealed for a penalty as Foster went down in a tussle with Albion's dependable central defender, but neither referee Pugh or his assistant were impressed.

Albion went in front in bizarre circumstances ten minutes before the break.

Watson's free-kick from inside the centre circle in the Albion half was headed back towards his own goal by Smith.

There was stunned silence as the ball looped out of Brock's reach and into the net.

It was a moment of misfortune for Smith and an unexpected present for the Seagulls.

Kidderminster introduced Bird for Foster up-front on 56 minutes.

Durnin was cautioned four minutes later for dissent after Watson curled a free-kick narrowly wide from 25 yards.

Mayo collected the first caution of the contest for the Seagulls for a foul on Ducros.

Watson thought he had doubled Albion's lead on 62 minutes with a free-kick from wide on the right which went straight in, but it was ruled out by referee Pugh for an infringement on goalkeeper Brock.

Albion finally scored their second with ten minutes left. Hinton pulled Zamora back in the area and the prolific young striker slotted his 18th of the season from the resulting penalty.

KIDDERMINSTER: Stuart Brock; Ian Clarkson, Parfait Medou-Otye, Craig Hinton, Mark Shail, Adie Smith, Barry Horne, Neil Mackenzie, Andy Ducros, Ian Foster, John Durnin. Subs: Clarke, Bennett, Bird, Bogie, Doyle.

ALBION: Michel Kuipers; Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Andy Crosby, Paul Rogers, Gary Hart, Charlie Oatway, Paul Brooker, Richard Carpenter, Bobby Zamora. Subs: Freeman, Jones, Virgo, Ramsay, Johnson.

REFEREE: Mr D. Pugh (Wirral).