Town progressed to the third round of the Worthington Cup beating Brighton 3-1 after going behind. Dean Hammond poked home a cross completely missed by Andy Marshall in the third minute, but the keeper's blushes were spared by goals from Darren Bent, Pablo Couñago and a stunner from Darren Ambrose.
The Blues started, playing 4-4-2, without Matt Holland who was missing through injury for the first time since breaking his arm when a Bournemouth player.
Hermann Hreidarsson took the captain's armband while Jermaine Wright and Jim Magilton took the central midfield roles with Darren Ambrose and Jamie Clapham the widemen. At the back Wayne Brown came in for the injured Mark Venus alongside John McGreal, Hreidarsson and Fabian Wilnis were the full-backs. Up front the strike partnership of Pablo Couñago and Darren Bent, which ended Sunday's game, continued.
The first goalmouth action of the first half saw Fabian Wilnis put a Brooker cross just by his own post. It was pretty close, although Wilnis will probably claim he was being particularly precise with his clearance.
Pablo Couñago started to become a bit of a thorn in the Brighton side from the off, and in the sixth minute he hit a shot just by the post after good work from Wright and Ambrose on the right. However, it was the visitors who were to go ahead.
In the 7th minute a Paul Watson freekick, awarded for a Brown foul on Gary Hart, came in from deep on the left. Town keeper Andy Marshall went to claim the ball, but missed it, and youngster Dean Hammond scuffed it home at the far post, the ball creeping into the net in an almost embarrassed manner. It was a very poor error from Marshall and just what Town didn't need so soon in the game.
Going behind could have been the signal for heads to drop, however, it was only five minutes before the Blues were back on terms. Hermann Hreidarsson played a ball down the left flank for Jamie Clapham who put in a low cross which Darren Bent hit past former Town loanee Andy Petterson in the Brighton goal.
Couñago was impressing greatly with his hold-up play and strong runs and in the 14th minute he beat a couple of defenders on the edge of the area before hitting a shot which gave Petterson little trouble.
Within a minute Darren Bent lobbed the ball over Petterson, but just wide. Four minutes later Bent put a Magilton cross over the bar as Town pressed for another goal.
It wasn't long in coming, and on 19 Jamie Clapham played a ball through to Pablo Couñago who took the ball into the area, and beat Petterson with a stylish finish.
Town continued to press with the Spaniard the main threat. In the 24th minute he chased down a long ball which Petterson headed away and Darren Bent went wide with a long range effort at the empty net.
Brighton weren't completely without chances in the latter stages of the half and, with seven minutes left before the break, Richard Carpenter hit a freekick off the Town bar with the Blues' wall looking less than well-built.
Jamie Clapham went into the referee's book on 42 after a late tackle on scorer Hammond, the only yellow card of the half.
The moment of the half was saved until the final minute, Darren Ambrose picking the ball up halfway inside the Brighton half and taking the ball forward before hammering a shot in off the bar from 20 yards, a goal only given after the referee had consulted his linesman. It was the goal of the game and the best of Ambrose's short career so far.
The second half was at times much like a training match with both sides playing the ball around well, but threatening more rarely. With a two-goal advantage Town were happy to let the visitors come at them, something they haven't been able to do for a few games.
Couñago and Darren Bent were getting involved in some excellent interchanges and George Burley must start to feel that he has a strike partnership starting to gel, Couñago improving with every game.
Marshall made his first save of the game on 53, a shot on the turn from Chris McPhee and a minute later referee Paul Armstrong seemed to pull back play for a Town freekick well inside the Blues' half when Darren Bent appeared to be about to have a free run on goal.
Just before the hour mark George Burley took off Ambrose and Couñago, bringing on Marcus Bent and Finidi George in their stead.
Hammond threatened again on 63, but his shot from the edge of the area went over.
Town were also creating chances, Magilton almost playing in Darren Bent, but Petterson was off his line quickly to claim the ball.
On 72 Marcus Bent just failed to get on the end of a Finidi George cross and a minute later a Wilnis cross-shot forced Petterson to tip over.
Danny Cullip got himself in the book for a foul on John McGreal with 11 minutes left before Andy Petterson made a fine save from Marcus Bent, diving to his left to out Bent's edge-of-the-area effort round the post.
Petterson was in action again shortly afterwards, tipping a Darren Bent effort from an acute angle over the bar.
On 81 a neat piece of work from Finidi George played in Darren Bent, a defender just preventing him from getting a shot in. From the resultant corner John McGreal headed straight at the keeper.
At the other end Wilnis cleared an effort off the line after Marshall had again failed to get near another cross.
With a minute of normal time left, the two Bents exchanged passes and Marcus slipped the ball over Petterson from an acute angle that came back to Darren six-yards out. However, the normally deadly youngster sent the ball over the bar when it seemed easier to score.
Back to winning ways then, and a sound performance from Town. Brighton passed the ball well, but without Zamora and Kitson they were toothless and, aside from the early gift from Marshall, they rarely threatened Town.
All three Town goals were well taken with Ambrose's particularly spectacular. Couñago and Darren Bent appeared to be getting an understanding going with the Spaniard having a major effect on the game during his time on the pitch.
A few things about the side look to be a bit more settled and the two frontmen and Ambrose will go into Saturday's game full of confidence.