The message is beginning to get through at last.

Albion boss Dean Wilkins has been banging on all season about the importance of set-pieces.

The Seagulls have conceded more goals than they have scored from dead ball situations but Alex Revell headed in a pinpoint free-kick from Sam Rents at Swansea and now the title-chasing reserves have gone one better.

They dominated the first half without scoring at Worthing last night before ending Wycombe's resistance with two set-piece goals from defenders after the break.

Skipper Tommy Elphick led the way, powering in a close-range header five minutes into the restart from a corner by Alex Frutos.

He was poleaxed in the process by team-mate Nathan Elder, jumping simultaneously. Elder tried to claim the goal at first but centre-half Elphick was having none of it.

Left-back Sonny Cobbs doubled Albion's advantage midway through the second-half with a header from an inviting free-kick by Tommy Fraser.

And another comfortable victory for the second string was completed with a minute left when Elder's shot was turned in by Joe Gatting, his 15th of the season.

It looked as if Gatting used his hand but Wycombe protests were ignored by replacement referee Andy Parker, who moved from the line to the middle for the second half with Keith Yeo suffering from a hernia.

Elder, denied adding to his ten-goal tally, said: "I thought the first one was mine but it seems I knocked out Tommy Elphick in the process and he actually headed the ball, so I am going to give that one to him but the next one is mine!"

Elder and his partner Gatting are both vying for a role against Oldham at Withdean on Saturday, with Bas Savage sidelined from the remaining two matches of the season by a medial knee ligament strain.

"It's healthy competition," said the former Billericay marksman. "I love it and I think Gatts feels exactly the same.

"It's not as if we are going out there to be selfish on the ball. We are both working as hard as each other and who ever starts or comes off the bench deserves it. It's not the type of competition where everyone is snarling, it's friendly competition."

Wes Fogden made an unscheduled first start since recovering from a benign spine tumour, as on-loan Australian Nick Ward was stuck in traffic and arrived late.

Ward took over from Fogden for the second half, on the right side of midfield in an orthodox 4-4-2 formation, rather than the diamond which has been used by Wilkins since February both in the first team and reserves.

Albion will pip Southampton in the Pontin's Holidays Combination Central Division and go into a play-off against Ipswich if they win their last two games at Bournemouth next Tuesday and at home against the same opponents 48 hours later.

Albion: Kuipers; P. Hinshelwood, Elphick, Pearson, Cobbs; Fogden, Fraser, Loft, Frutos; Elder, Gatting. Subs: Ward for Fogden (46), Martin for Loft (87), Sullivan, Gargan, Skinner.