Where has Nathan Elder been these past few months?

The muscular centre forward celebrated his full debut with a fine header to end a run of five straight defeats for the Seagulls.

Elder's first half goal and powerful performance makes you wonder why he was not unleashed earlier following his December move from Billericay.

He scored lots of goals for them and has done the same for Albion's Reserves but had been restricted to a dozen substitute appearances prior to the closing trip to Whaddon Road.

That seems strange considering Albion had scored a modest 16 goals in 23 games since the turn of the year, four of them in one match at Leyton Orient.

Elder's 23rd-minute header was not quite enough to earn Dean Wilkins' strugglers a closing victory, Cheltenham equalising with a disputed late penalty.

But Elder's display promised much for next season, together with a solid first away start by Tommy Elphick.

It is not very often that the spine of a team is totally changed but that was the case for Albion following the home defeat by Oldham.

The return of Scott Flinders to Crystal Palace after an impressive loan spell spanning 12 matches cleared the way for Michel Kuipers' comeback.

Zesh Rehman and Guy Butters were in the centre of defence against Oldham with Kerry Mayo at rightback.

Elphick's call-up at the expense of Mayo resulted in Rehman switching to rightback. Elder took over from Jake Robinson upfront to partner Alex Revell.

Cheltenham were unchanged after ensuring survival with a 4-2 victory at relegated Rotherham.

A look at the names on the team sheet suggested Albion would line-up in an orthodox 4-4-2 formation. Dean Wilkins decided instead to reinstate the midfield diamond, with Gary Hart in the advanced role.

It was unusual to see Alexis Bertin out on the right rather than in front of the back four, where he has normally been since his move from Le Havre.

It was not, however, a position entirely alien to him, as he has played on the right before in France.

The Seagulls took a while to find their feet in the glorious Gloucestershire sunshine which accentuated the end-of-season feel to proceedings.

They were a little fortunate in the 14th minute when they failed to clear their lines from a corner.

Gavin Caines eventually headed the ball back to John Finnigan, the Cheltenham captain, and he fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

Elder impressed from the outset. He won plenty of aerial challenges and provided a physical presence which Albion have been sadly lacking.

Midway through the first half he tried to connect with a cross from Bertin but, under pressure from a couple of defenders, could not keep his header down.

Header A minute later came a moment to remember for Elder in the shape of the first senior goal of his career.

It was a fine one too. The Cheltenham defence was charitable in leaving him unmarked from a cross by Rehman but he still had a lot to do to beat keeper Scott Brown with a looping angled header from eight yards.

Albion, growing in confidence, could have been further ahead by the break.

A swivelling volley from Dean Cox threatened to seriously test Brown when Bertin inadvertently ran into its path.

There was almost a carbon copy of Elder's goal in the 37th minute, Revell this time getting on the end of another cross from Rehman but heading narrowly wide.

The Seagulls also had decent claims for a penalty shortly before the interval when Elder seemed to be bundled over inside the area by Michael Townsend.

Cheltenham were always likely to improve in the second half, so Albion were eager for a second goal to give them breathing space.

It could, perhaps should, have arrived in the 53rd minute when a deep corner from Sam Rents was headed into the danger zone by Elder and Butters failed to connect with a half-volley five yards out.

While Elder prospered, Cheltenham's formidable spearhead Kayode Odejayi had been kept pretty quiet by Butters and Elphick in the opening 45 minutes.

The big Nigerian, who scored his 15th goal of the season at Rotherham, was more influential after the break, setting up his partner Steven Gillespie for a volley which he miscued with both feet off the ground.

It was clawed away by Kuipers and JJ Melligan, who had already been cautioned, was a little fortunate not to be sent off for a dive in search of a penalty as Hart challenged.

Kuipers, making his first appearance since a groin injury in the home win over Nottingham Forest in February, was well protected and did not have a serious save to make until the 58th minute.

Odejayi headed into the path of Gillespie but his effort from six yards out was deflected by the Dutchman with a strong left hand.

Gillespie tried to curl a shot past Kuipers after a mazy run four minutes later but Albion's long-serving custodian was equal to the task.

Albion's failure to put the game to bed eventually proved their undoing.

Revell and Cox each had angled drives beaten away by Brown before Cheltenham levelled in controversial circumstances with three minutes left.

A header by Melligan appeared to be headed away by Rehman but referee Paul Taylor spotted a hand ball and pointed to the spot. Kuipers was booked for protesting before Finnigan's penalty denied Albion their tenth away victory of an otherwise disappointing season.

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