Albion crashed to their first defeat in seven pre-season friendlies at rain-drenched Whaddon Road last night.

Chirpy Cheltenham embarrassed Martin Hinshelwood's men with four goals in the opening hour, including a pair for new signing Paul Brayson from Cardiff.

Shaun Wilkinson and Robbie Pethick (penalty) gave the scoreline a measure of respectability in a spirited late rally.

It was a particularly bad night for trialists Andy Petterson and Mirijan Kovacevic in their bids to earn deals with the Seagulls.

Keeper Petterson could not do much about the goals but Croatian centre half Kovacevic was badly exposed and he was taken off midway through the second half.

Hinshelwood took the opportunity to experiment again, Paul Watson starting at leftback rather than in his customary rightback role.

A downpour before kick-off made the playing surface slick and Albion fell behind to a slick move from their newly promoted Second Division hosts after only three minutes.

Lee Williams cleverly released Antony Griffin down the right flank to deliver a low cross which the unmarked Tony Naylor tucked in from close range.

Chris McPhee, looking for his first pre-season goal, missed a good chance to equalise eight minutes later.

The young striker, back from a back strain, nodded narrowly wide from six yards following an elusive run and pinpoint cross by Paul Brooker.

McPhee went close again in an undistinguished first half with a shot on the turn from a similar position which was saved by ex-Albion reserve Steve Book.

Hinshelwood made three changes for the second half. Adam Virgo took over at centre half from Danny Cullip, Kerry Mayo replaced Watson and Geoff Pitcher came on for Charlie Oatway in midfield.

Cheltenham boss Graham Allner made no fewer than six changes at the break and was soon handsomely rewarded.

Substitute Neil Howarth headed home a Russell Milton cross four minutes into the restart, then fellow replacement Brayson came into his own.

The Seagulls were all at sea as he latched on to a crossfield pass from Martin Devaney and calmly picked his spot after 52 minutes.

Worse followed on 61 minutes, Brayson doubling his tally with an angled header from Howarth's right wing centre.

Very little went right for Albion. Their rookie strike force suffered further frustration when Wilkinson headed against the bar from a Brooker cross.

Wilkinson finally reduced the arrears on 66 minutes with a deflected shot from another cross by Brooker, Albion's best player.

The Seagulls at least showed some resolve once the game was lost, Robbie Pethick pulling another goal back from the spot 13 minutes from time after Book brought down McPhee.

Paul Rogers and sub David Lee nearly made it 4-3 in the dying stages, both heading against the bar in swift succession with Brooker the supplier again.

The crowd included former Albion loan striker and Cheltenham chief Steve Cotterill, now in charge at Stoke.

Albion: Petterson; Watson, Pethick, Cullip, Kovacevic, Hammond, Wilkinson, Rogers, McPhee, Oatway, Brooker. Subs: Packham, Carpenter, Melton for Kovacevic (66), Lee for McPhee (78), Marney for Wilkinson (78), Mayo for Watson (46), Virgo for Cullip (46), Pitcher for Oatway (46).

Cheltenham: Book; Griffin, Victory, Duff, Yates, Naylor, Milton, Walker, Devaney, Kear, Williams. Subs: Brough for Duff (46), Brayson for Naylor (46), McAuley for Williams (46), Howarth for Griffin (46), Alsop for Kear (46), Bird for Alsop (80), Duff for Walker (87), Finnigan for Yates (46).

Referee: M. Cooper (West Midlands).

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