Gordon Smith recalls fateful final minute when Everton last visited Brighton and Hove Albion

He hadn’t – thanks to a typically eye-catching performance from Welsh referee Clive Thomas.

But the most recent meeting between these two clubs went a long way towards sending the Seagulls towards their 34-year exile from the top flight.

It also underlined the growing winning mentality that, within two years, would take Everton to the summit of the English game.

Albion were on a decent run when the Merseysiders, and the Match Of The Day cameras, visited at the start of April, 1983.

What followed was a case of “if it can go wrong, it will go wrong” as the Toffees nicked a 2-1 win.

Albion beat Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-final of the FA Cup a week later.

But this shattering league defeat kept them in the drop zone and they eventually went down before the final game.

It has taken this long to regain that top-tier status and the Seagulls can now try to pick up a third successive home win.

How big a setback that 1983 defeat was we will never know but Albion had just started to build some momentum for the run-in, notably with a comeback win at home to Spurs and a point at high-flying Southampton.

Smith, who scored from the spot when a re-take was ordered, told The Argus: “It was the first time I’d missed a penalty – or so I thought until he ordered a retake.

“I remember having a goal disallowed right at the end and they went straight down the other end to win it.

“It was one of a few games where we played quite well but just weren’t getting the breaks in the league whereas we were getting them in the FA Cup.

“Somebody said to me that was a great example of relegation form, when you are playing well and still not winning.

“At least if you are playing badly and losing, you know what you can do to turn it around.

“But we were not playing badly at all. This was one of those games where you can’t believe you have just got beat.”

Kevin Sheedy scored both goals for Everton.

The left-sided midfielder would become a key player in the team which won the FA Cup a year later and both the league and the European Cup Winners Cup a further year on.

Chris Ramsey and Graham Moseley after Everton's gift opening goal

Sheedy got a foot to Chris Ramsey’s intended back pass to open the scoring in front of the South Stand in the first half.

Albion later sent big centre-back Steve Foster forward as a target man.

They had some great chances before Thomas awarded a late penalty, ruling Foster had been dragged down by Everton centre-back Mark Higgins.

Smith drilled his spot-kick to the right of keeper Jim Arnold, who produced a brilliant save.

But Thomas decided he had moved too soon which he probably had, albeit very marginally.

Smith recalled: “I was glad he ordered the retake but then you wonder whether you should go to the same side.

“I did – and he went that way again. But the shot beat him.”

So Albion were level but boss Jimmy Melia kept Foster up front.

As the attacks continued, Smith fired in what he thought was a late winner, only for Michael Robinson to be penalised for a push as he flicked the ball on.

Penalty as Steve Foster goes down

It looked a poor decision although the home protests were minimal compared to scenes we might see today.

So Everton had a free-kick about ten yards outside their box.

Foster blocked off the back-pass to the keeper so Higgins went long – and the home defence went AWOL.

Adrian Heath was clean through and, though he was denied by Graham Moseley’s save, the ball eventually ran for Sheedy to score.

There was just time for Albion to restart the game before Thomas blew for full-time.

Smith revealed: “I thought we had won 2-1, then they went straight down the other end and scored with the last kick.

“It was a massive blow – and a massive blow to be part of a relegated team.”

TV commentator Barry Davies wondered whether Ramsey’s error was connected to his disappointment at missing the FA Cup semi.

Ramsey had been sent off, and rightly so, for a pair of challenges against Spurs and was due to serve his ban the following week.

But Smith said: “He wouldn’t have been thinking about the semi-final.”

We will never know what might have happened had that Smith goal stood and Albion taken three points rather than none. They ultimately went down by eight points but would have been in far better shape for the run-in had they beaten Everton.

The club’s official history, written by Tim Carder and Roger Harris, described the result as “a severe setback”.

But then Everton also had their “what if?” storyline.

Five of this team became regulars in the XI which went on to dominate English football - right-back Gary Stevens, centre-back Kevin Ratcliffe, forwards Heath and Graham Sharp and two-goal Sheedy. Derek Mountfield was on the bench.

Arnold, who was excellent that day, and Neville Southall were competing for the place in goal while Peter Reid missed this game. Paul Bracewell, Pat Van Den Hauwe and Trevor Steven were among those who would be added.

But the “what if?” concerns what they might have gone on to achieve had English clubs not been banned from Europe just as Kendall’s men were reaching the peak of their powers.

Everton are a long way from those heights now while Albion know every point counts.

Smith will follow events at the Amex from afar.

He said: “My daughter was born in Brighton and my grandson Xavi, who’s nine, is a Brighton fan. Rangers was the most successful part of my career but Brighton was the most special.”