By Tim Dudding, at Withdean

Albion recorded their first win of the season after Nicky Forster's second half goal proved enough to separate these two sides.

Forster struck with his third goal in three games to finally remove the proverbial monkey from Albion's back.

Aside from the importance of the result, this match won't linger long in the memory. With the exception of a deflected long-range shot that was easy pickings for Michel Kuipers, the first period was a sombre affair as both sides cancelled each other out.

Arron Davies made his debut on the flank after signing on loan from Nottingham Forest, and when the first chance of any note did finally materialise, it fell to the winger. A quick interchange with Forster allowed him to surge into the penalty area, but his left-foot shot was turned behind Wycombe keeper Scott Shearer.

Albion - now without the injured Andrew Whing, who suffered a dead leg when charging down Matt Phillips's shot before half-time - upped the tempo after the break, and an encouraging early spell almost saw Gary Dicker curl an effort inside the far post from an acute angle.

The advance subsided after a while though, and so Russell Slade introduced Dean Cox for the tiring Davies. And the move paid dividends, because in the 75th minute the diminutive play-maker was integral in Forster's winning goal.

In fact, Forster almost scored in the initial build-up, when Liam Dickinson showed terrific skill on the right flank before drilling a low cross into the area, but the club captain's first time effort was kept out by an out-stretched boot from Shearer.

Wycombe cleared, but only as far as Elliott Bennett, who spied a crafty little run from Cox and flicked the ball into the midfielder's path. Cox looked up and crossed unselfishly for the unmarked Forster to tap home with ease from six yards.

Wycombe rallied in the final minutes and had Albion pinned back, but in injury time the Seagulls could have sealed the win with a golden opportunity. Cox was involved again, this time threading a lovely ball through to substitute Gary Hart, but the striker dragged his shot just past the post with only Shearer to beat.

Hart's miss only served to increase the tension, because with the seconds ticking away Michel Kuipers was penalised for time-wasting by a fastidious Gavin Ward, and Wycombe had a free-kick inside the Albion area.

Fortunately Albion's defence were brave and charged down the danger, and Forster's goal would prove enough to secure Albion first win of the season.

Albion: (4-4-2) Kuipers; Whing (Elphick 46), Virgo, Tunnicliffe, El-Abd; Bennett, Crofts, Dicker, A Davies (Cox 66); Forster (Hart 84), Dickinson. Subs not used: G Smith, C Davies, Navarro, Thornhill.

Wycombe: (4-4-2) Shearer; Oliver, Duberry, Moncur (Betsy 79), Woodman; Green (Pittman 67), Westlake (Pack 67), Mousinho, Zebroksi; Harrold, Phillips. Subs not used: Johnson, Young (GK), Westwood, Beavon.

Attendance: 5895 (Wycombe 495)

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Yellow Cards: Dickinson, Bennett, Kuipers (Albion).