Albion prospect James Tilley continued his eventful end to the season with a goal for the under-21s at the Amex last night.

The 16-year-old playmaker struck in the second half as Simon Rusk's youngsters completed their home campaign in the Premier League with a commanding 3-0 win against Stoke City.

Tilley made his senior debut as a sub in the closing moments at Middlesbrough last Saturday. He came off the bench again for the under-21s in Monday's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal and made the most of his start last night with a clinical low drive from the edge of the box in the 53rd minute to double Albion's lead.

Tilley was set up by fleet-footed 19-year-old trialist Joe Ward from Chelmsford City, who made a perky debut on the right-wing.

Captain Glen Rea rewarded Albion's first half superiority in the 25th minute with an angled header at the far post from a Charlie Harris corner.

They were reduced to ten men for the final 13 minutes, centre-half Tom Dallison seeing red for an off-the-ball incident defending a corner which was spotted by the linesman.

Stoke midfielder Eddie Lecygne put the ensuing penalty over the bar and Jesse Starkey punished the Potters further in the 86th minute, drilling Albion's third after creating room for himself inside the area.

The victory lifted the fledgling Seagulls above Blackburn and Bolton into eighth in the second division table ahead of their closing fixture at Aston Villa on May 18.

Albion (4-2-3-1): Walton; Hunt, White, Dallison, Starkey; Rea, Hutchinson; Ward (Barnett 80), Tilley, Harris, Deen (Davis 83). Subs not used: Barry, Doherty, Muitt.