LEON Barnett made a successful return from injury - and Sherjill MacDonald's fine solo effort made it a winning comeback for the ex-Luton centre-half.

Barnett was sidelined for a month with a knee problem which required surgery.

But the centre-half never looked flustered during a solid 90-minute workout against a Chelsea side full of youthful zest but lacking a cutting edge.

MacDonald secured Albion's second Barclays Premier Reserve League (South) win of the term by bagging the game's only goal in the 16^th minute.

The ex-AGOVV Apeldoorn ace beat two Chelsea defenders before firing home from the edge of the box.

Marek Cech had an impressive night at left-back while fellow first-teamers Luke Moore, Do-heon Kim, Pele, Dean Kiely and Carl Hoefkens also brushed up on their match practice.

Although Chelsea dominated possession during the opening exchanges, it was Albion who looked the most threatening.

Moore saw a 12-yard shot blocked at point-blank range by Chelsea centre-half Liam Bridcutt before Blues keeper Rhys Taylor gathered MacDonald's cross-cum-shot in the nick of time, denying David Worrall a tap-in.

However, Taylor had no chance in the 16^th minute when MacDonald gave the home supporters some much-needed cheer on a freezing Black Country evening.

The tigerish Worrall broke up a Chelsea move deep inside the Baggies half before feeding the ex-Dutch Under-21 international.

MacDonald controlled the ball on his chest before skipping past two defenders and smashing home from just inside the box.

Albion were rarely troubled during the rest of the half.

In fact, Scott Sinclair's 20-yard free-kick, which flew a couple of yards wide, was the West Londoners' only shot of note during the entire 45 minutes.

It was the Baggies who almost added to the scoring just before the interval when Worrall's 18-yard rocket drew a fine double-handed save out of Taylor after fine work by Romaine Sawyers and Cech.

Chelsea looked more purposeful after the restart and Sergio Tejera Rodrigez was just wide with a sublime 20-yard curler.

After MacDonald had seen a close-range header from Worrall's cross loop off a Chelsea defender and sail just past the right-hand post, the visitors came within a whisker of levelling.

Sinclair drifted past Kim and although he was forced wide by Barnett, he managed to unleash a ferocious shot which beat Kiely all ends up before cannoning off the underside of the bar and out to safety.

Albion had another let off within a minute when Tejera Rodrigez sliced wide from Seth Ofori-Twumasi's centre.

Michael Appleton's side then went close twice in quick succession.

Moore raced onto Kim's diagonal ball and was denied by Taylor's smart block. The rebound looped towards MacDonald who was unlucky to see his instinctive header drift wide of the empty net.

Moments later, Worrall saw a terrific 20-yard volley loop onto the roof of the beaten Taylor's net after good work by Cech and Graham Dorrans.

Albion had one late scare when Michael Woods saw a diving header fly just wide from Sinclair's centre.

ALBION (4-3-1-2): Kiely; Hoefkens, Barnett, Pele, Cech; Worrall, Kim (Elford-Alliyu 66), Dorrans; Sawyers; MacDonald, Moore (Saied 66). Subs not used: Hancox, Pike, Slusarski.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Taylor; Ofori-Twumasi, Bridcutt, Magnay, von Aanholt; Woods, Mineiro, Sawer; Tejera Rodrigez, Sinclair, F Ferreira (Hutchinson HT). Subs not used: Heimann, Taiwo, Saville.

GOAL: ALBION - MacDonald (16).

BOOKINGS: CHELSEA - Woods (foul 61).

REFEREE: D Mohareb.

ATTENDANCE: 938.