ALBION wonder boy Bobby Zamora is cherishing promotion, a year after an unexpected near-miss.

Zamora returned to Bristol Rovers towards the end of last season following six goals in six games on loan to the Seagulls.

Rovers looked certain to go up from the Second Division for most of the campaign, but in the end they even missed out on a play-off place.

"We slipped away dreadfully," said Zamora.

"This definitely more than makes up for it.

"I didn't have much to do with it at Bristol Rovers, but I feel part of this one."

Zamora has good reason to. The young marksman's clinching goal at Plymouth on Saturday was his 27th of a stunning season.

Zamora, a £100,000 snip from Rovers in August, is now on course to emulate Garry Nelson's 32-goal haul when Albion were last promoted in 1987-88.

"I couldn't imagine at all when I first signed that things would go as well as this," he admitted.

"I thought we would be up there in the play-off positions, but it has just been magnificent.

"I am over the moon with the way I have done and the way the team has done."

Zamora was not on the pitch at the final whistle on Saturday.

Phil Stant replaced him for the final 15 minutes, but representatives of League sponsors Nationwide kept the bench in touch with the other vitals scores.

T"We have done what we wanted to and now we have another target to get the title," Zamora added.

"We still don't know what the situation is with Chesterfield, but we are going to go out with all guns blazing and hopefully get six wins."

Andy Crosby was more animated than most at the final whistle on Saturday.

The big centre half was desperately trying to find out the key results involving Hartlepool and Rochdale.

'I was looking at everyone for confirmation," Crosby said. "It was unbelievable when we heard the roar of the crowd with minutes to go.

"This is the tops by far for me. I've come close to promotion once before and I've had a lot of stick off the lads about it.

"I have been a pro for ten years and this is brilliant, but we want the League now.

"That is the aim, irrespective of whether or not Chesterfield are deducted points. We have come too far to throw it away."

Albion remain four points behind Chesterfield with a game in hand, subject to confirmation of the Spireites nine-point penalty.

Chesterfield visit Withdean on May 1 and launch their appeal against the punishment the day before.

Cardiff's defeat on Saturday away to today's Withdean visitors Darlington means the Seagulls are four points ahead of the Welshmen with a game in hand.

Another win for Albion today is certain to strengthen their title aspirations, as Cardiff and Chesterfield clash head-on at Ninian Park.

Albion's Dutch goalkeeper Michel Kuipers declared: "We are still very focused and we are ready to win the League now.:

"