Bobby Zamora wrote his name into the record books as Albion marched on at the top of the Second Division.

The young marksman's 17th goal of the season killed off Bury after Paul Brooker celebrated his recall by giving Peter Taylor's rampant Seagulls an early lead.

Albion have now extended their lead at the top to three points after Stoke's game at Peterborough was postponed, Brentford were held to a 2-2 draw at Wycombe and Reading lost 1-0 at home to Chesterfield.

It sets them up perfectly for Tuesday's LDV Vans Trophy Southern Section quarter-final tie at Cambridge and next Saturday's televised FA Cup second round clash against Rushden and Diamonds at Withdean.

Peter Taylor watched from the stands as the Seagulls made a positive start on a pitch softened by morning rain.

Just 15 seconds had elapsed when Zamora shot narrowly wide with his left foot from 20 yards.

He was convinced the ball had taken a deflection for a corner, but referee Messias awarded a goal kick.

The only threat from Bury in the opening exchanges came when Newby pursued a long clearance through the middle, forcing Kuipers to the edge of his area to hack to safety.

Albion were rewarded for their enterprise with a breakthrough in the 19th minute.

Hart's clever pass put Brooker through for an angled drive which beat the diving Garner but was cleared by the covering Redmond.

Unfortunately for the former Manchester City stopper, the ball landed straight back at the feet of Brooker, who calmly slotted it into an empty net.

It was the first League goal scored by an Albion player other than Zamora for eight hours and 16 minutes, stretching back to Hart's effort at Notts County.

Bury had barely offered a threat, which encouraged around 1,000 Seagull supporters to chant 'you're worse than Man United'. They had to wait until the 36th minute for their first attempt at goal.

Oatway was penalised for a foul on Singh.

The rain began to fall again on an uneven surface, which made cohesive football difficult.

Albion started the second half in the same adventurous manner as they had the first. Morgan, unmarked from a free-kick, saw his header helped over the bar by Zamora.

A second goal seemed only a matter of time and when it arrived on 61 minutes Zamora entered Albion's record books.

Brooker's pass put him through the inside left channel, with Bury looking in vain for an offside flag.

Garner was marooned yards off his line as Zamora superbly lobbed his eighth goal in eight appearances.

The only other Albion players to have scored eight goals in eight successive matches are Arthur Atwood (twice), Peter Harburn, Bernard Moore and Cyril Thompson.