They gathered for a giantkilling, but the giants did the slaughtering.

All the ingredients were in place, a fervent crowd, a sloping pitch ravaged by rain, thriving underdogs and favourites accustomed to embarrassing FA Cup experiences.

Albion had been ko'd in the first round by non-League opposition in three of the previous six seasons. The national media were mob-handed in anticipation of another humiliation for the 1983 finalists.

Micky Adams knew it, his players knew it, and that was all the motivation they needed.

"That's why you were here and the Match of the Day cameras," Adams told the pack of press men.

"My team talk was quite easy. We kept a low profile all week, kept our mouths shut and came and did the job."

Bodie and Doyle couldn't have done the job better. Aldershot were gunned down with clinical efficiency.

"We were professional from start to finish," Adams said. "Too many Brighton sides have come unstuck in the past, but we are bigger and better than that. There is tremendous mental strength in our dressing room."

Aldershot, inspired by the fleet-footed Wayne Andrews, were in it for 18 minutes, the time between Gary Abbott's equalising penalty and the first of two spot-kicks for Paul Watson.

Apart from that spell before half time it was all Albion. The Aldershot defence couldn't cope and behind them Andy Pape had an awful afternoon.

The former Barnet and QPR goalkeeper, a tax collector, could be picking up his P45 after this horror show.

Pape's problems began in the third minute with a poorly organised and under-manned wall.

Richard Carpenter, who has made such a difference to Albion's midfield, exploited the gap with a Beckhamesque free-kick from 25 yards.

Aldershot levelled completely against the run of play, Abbott's penalty lifting his season's haul to 17.

Danny Cullip, who had an uncharacteristic off day, was the culprit with a mistimed challenge on Andrews.

Pape could have no complaints either when he sent Bobby Zamora sprawling just before the break. The dependable Watson restored Albion's lead from the spot and they never looked back.

Charlie Oatway, recalled at the expense of Lee Steele, showed there is more to him than tenacity with the best goal of the game.

He curled a right-foot shot over Pape from 20 yards after Nathan Jones made progress down the left.

The hapless Pape blundered again seven minutes later, grabbing Jones around the neck instead of the ball. Watson's resulting penalty removed any doubts about the outcome.

Zamora must have been wondering what he had to do to score his first away goal of the season. He headed wastefully straight at Pape and unluckily against the bar in the first half.

The answer was simple, nod in a cross from Gary Hart deflected obligingly into his path.

Hart created the sixth as well two minutes later, flicking Oatway's corner goalwards for Matt Wicks to turn in from close range.

Abbott gave the bedraggled Aldershot fans something to cheer by heading a consolation from a Jason Chewins cross, but their hopes of justifying the media frenzy had long since been torn to shreds.

Adams said: "Really we were never troubled in terms of the result, but I am not sure Aldershot deserved to lose by four goals.

"We got a perfect start. Richard Carpenter has that ability and he settled our nerves.

"We dominated for 25 minutes until they got the penalty. Andrews has pace and he was the obvious get-out ball for them, but we got a little bit closer to him in the second half and restricted his movement.

"I thought the ref was spot on. I didn't complain about their penalty and I don't think there was any complaint about our two.

"We certainly didn't want to go out of the Cup. We've got a tremendous bunch of pros who work really hard and the sky's the limit for them."

Aldershot boss George Borg, unhappy about both Albion spot-kicks, conceded: "You've got to give it to them. They played extremely well in the first 25 minutes.

"We kept having a go and trying to entertain. We scored two but had six chances, which is the difference between League and non-League players."

It's back to reality for Aldershot on Saturday, a top-of-the table clash in the Ryman Premier League against Canvey Island.

It's back to the bread and butter for Albion too against lowly Shrewsbury at Withdean. Promotion is, of course, the priority, but a moneyspinning FA Cup adventure is overdue.