Albion boss Micky Adams likened his team's position to that of a 400 metre runner in his programme notes prior to the battering of Barnet last week.

"Regardless of what has gone on in the first 300 metres you have got to come off that last bend giving yourself at least a fighting chance for a medal," he wrote.

Adams went several strides further after this rousing deadlock, conceding the finishing line is "staring us in the face."

Like all managers Adams will continue to make the right noises. He will emphasise the need to stay focused and the hard work which still lies ahead. But I will say for him what he would dare not say in public just yet.

Albion have, to all intents and purposes, already broken the tape and claimed a promotion medal.

The real issue now is whether it will be gold, silver or bronze, especially with a potential points punishment hanging over leaders Chesterfield.

Let's face it, letting slip a ten-point lead with ten games to go is about as plausible as Michael Johnson being outrun by Ross Johnson, with all due respect to the Seagulls' former centre half!

Hartlepool had to win to cling on to a chink of hope of catching up.

Instead they had to settle for coming from behind twice to extend a club record unbeaten League run which goes back to the end of November.

Adams' mild annoyance at the manner in which the leads were relinquished was balanced by another encouraging contribution from rookie substitute Adam Virgo.

Pressed into action after half-an-hour in place of the injured Cullip, Virgo let nobody down on only his fourth senior appearance.

He could, indeed should, even have scored, lifting the ball over the crossbar early in the second half after Anthony Williams patted a harmless cross from Paul Brooker into his path.

The former Ardingly College pupil neither performed or talked like a daunted 18-year-old.

"I tried to play my normal game, winning tackles and headers for the team," a confident Virgo explained. I was waiting for my chance because that is what I am here for, to play first team football. I want to play every week.

"It was unlucky for Danny but an advantage to me. I am learning more every game and if you play against good strikers you are going to."

Virgo was referring to the Hartlepool scorers, Tony Lormor and Kevin Henderson.

Lormor was twice denied by outstanding smothering saves by Michel Kuipers, when the ex-Mansfield marksman appeared poised to put the home side in front.

Kerry Mayo had come even closer for Albion with a slightly deflected shot from 25 yards which struck a post. A strike from similar distance by Richard Carpenter, his fifth of the season, broke the stalemate.

Paul Watson pulled a corner back for the midfielder to rifle in a low right-footer on the run from just outside the area.

Carpenter likes Hartlepool. His first for Albion came against them in a 4-2 win at Withdean in October.

A rush of goals at the start of the second half ensured another high-scoring encounter for Hartlepool's second-highest crowd of the season.

Casual marking from a Paul Stephenson corner allowed Lormor to head his third in as many home games into the roof of the net a couple of minutes into the restart.

Bobby Zamora showed strength of character in restoring Albion's lead from the spot after Michael Barron was ajudged to have handled his cross.

His previous penalty, against Hull, was weak and easily saved.

Zamora made no mistake this time, sending Williams the wrong way for his 24th of the season.

Teams are often at their most vulnerable when they have just scored and that proved to be the case again.

Albion were caught napping within seconds, Hartlepool's top scorer Henderson responding by slotting his 19th of the campaign.

Adams said: "The result was a fair reflection between two good sides.

"It was an entertaining game and it would have been a travesty if either had lost.

"If I was being really critical I would say we looked half asleep at times, particularly at set pieces."

Saturday's showdown with Chesterfield should keep them awake. The result could have a major bearing on the colour of that medal for Albion.