Paul Watson brought Albion's championship campaign to a fitting climax with a wonder winner against 10-man Vale.

A stunning strike by the Hastings-born fullback on 72 minutes extended the Seagulls' unbeaten sequence at the end of another jubilant season to ten games.

Watson curved a spectacular free-kick into the roof of the net with his deadly left foot from the right hand edge of the area.

His fifth goal of the season and first away from Withdean ignited more celebrations among an army of 4,500 Albion fans.

A tight tussle turned the way of Peter Taylor's team when Vale had striker Stephen Brooker sent off on 34 minutes for a nasty tackle on Richard Carpenter.

The Vale players were angry that Steve McPhee was off the pitch receiving treatment for a wack on the nose, sustained in a challenge with Danny Cullip.

Brooker's lunge at Carpenter led to an unsavoury melee involving players from both sides before referee Mike Ryan gave him his marching orders.

Will Packham, making his full League debut in goal for Albion in place of the injured Michel Kuipers, had little difficulty in recording a clean sheet.

Vale only threatened during a late rally, when Michael Cummins chipped narrowly over the bar.

England Under 21 manager David Platt watched Bobby Zamora make his 100th appearance for an Albion line-up including the recalled Charlie Oatway and Wayne Gray.

Zamora came close to adding to his 32 goal tally a couple of times in the second half before he was substituted in the closing stages by Robbie Pethick.

A crowd of 8,812 saw the Seagulls have the better of a paucity of chances.

Vale keeper Mark Goodlad smothered at the feet of Nathan Jones in the first half and he did well to keep out a free-kick from Carpenter which took a deflection.

The result lifted Albion to 90 points, with a club record of only six League defeats.

Reading will join them in Division One next season after a 1-1 draw at Brentford which means the Bees join Cardiff, Stoke and Huddersfield in the play-offs.