Albion have a place in the Second Division next season within their grasp after a cracking contest.

The Seagulls led promotion rivals Hartlepool twice with goals by Richard Carpenter and Bobby Zamora (penalty).

Micky Adams' spirited side were without the injured Danny Cullip for the last two thirds of the match as they were pegged back by Hartlepool's front pair Tony Lormor and Kevin Henderson.

The result means Albion remain ten points clear of Hartlepool with two games in hand.

A crowd of 4,410 - the second highest of the season at Victoria Park, was stunned when Carpenter fired the Seagulls into a 37th minute lead from a Paul Watson corner.

The game came dramatically to life with three goals in the space of nine minutes at the start of the second half.

Lormor, denied twice by fine smothering saves by Michel Kuipers, headed the home side level from a Paul Stephenson corner on 47 minutes.

Zamora restored Albion's advantage on 56 minutes after his cross had been handled inside the area by Michael Barron.

Zamora had a weak penalty saved against Hull last Saturday, but he made no mistake from the spot this time to lift his tally to 24.

The Seagulls' lead lasted only seconds, Hartlepool's topscorer Henderson responding with his 19th of the campaign.

It rescued a fifth draw in a row for Hartlepool and stretched their unbeaten League run to 18 matches, but the outcome suits Albion much better.

Kuipers had an excellent match and 18-year-old Adam Virgo also did well at the heart of the defence after replacing Cullip.

All roads now lead to Withdean next Saturday for a title showdown against Chesterfield.