Gary Hart filled Bobby Zamora's goalscoring boots to keep Albion bang on course for promotion.

Hart took over as the central striker against Tony Cottee's Barnet yesterday while Zamora served a one-match ban.

He celebrated the return to his preferred role by scoring the only goal at Underhill for the second season running and his second in as many matches.

Hart volleyed in his sixth goal of the campaign in the first half from a corner routine involving Paul Watson and Richard Carpenter.

"It was great for me to get another goal," Hart said. "The main thing when the ball comes to you like that is to get it on target and I did.

"That is my position at the end of the day, so I didn't find it strange playing there.

"I was trying to do Bobby's job by holding the ball up."

Manager Micky Adams said: "Carpenter shanked his shot, but it fell nicely to Harty.

"It was a terrific finish. I think Tony Cottee would have been pleased with that one.

"That's where I like to see my strikers, inside the box."

Hart's strike spared Paul Watson's blushes at missing a penalty two minutes earlier.

He blazed over the bar after Paul Brooker had been brought down.

"It was a terrific response after being so deflated," added Adams. "I was very happy with the team.

"I asked them to prove we are not just a one man band with Bobby Zamora missing and it was a solid performance from start to finish."

The second-placed Seagulls remain four points behind leaders Chesterfield who were 2-0 winners at home to Darlington.

Matthew Wicks, who missed yesterday's match with a hamstring strain, could be available for Saturday's trip to promotion rivals Rochdale.