Albion were unchanged for this weekend's promotion clash at Victoria Park.

Manager Micky Adams stuck with the side which thumped Barnet 4-1 at Withdean on Wednesday.

Albion were in relaxed mood, with Adams stressing the pressure to win was on Hartlepool.

The Seagulls went into the fixture ten points clear of their hosts with two games in hand.

The locals were out in force on a cold, blustery day, which emphasised the importance of the result to Hartlepool.

A bumper crowd was swelled by 500 Albion fans, seated behind the goal occupied by Kuipers in the first half.

Conditions were by no means easy, a swirling wind, accompanying a pitch which was bare in the centre circle and both penalty areas and was heavily watered before kick-off.

All of the early pressure predictably came from Hartlepool.

Sharp's huge throw-in from the left caused some uncertainty before Mayo steered a header back to Kuipers.

Albion, having contained Hartlepool's initial spurt, began to settle into their passing game.

Brooker, fresh from two goals in three games, produced the first real moment of an attacking inspiration when he turned past Westwood to escape down the right.

He delivered a dangerous low cross towards the near post which was completely missed by the advancing Jones.

Mayo came agonisingly close to giving Albion a 23rd minute lead.

The leftback cut infield to strike a shot from 25 yards which took a slight deflection off the head of a Hartlepool defender.

The faint change in direction was enough to beat the diving Williams as the ball rebounded off his right hand post.

Hart collected the first caution of the contest moments later, seemingly for something he said.

Albion were temporarily down to ten men, Cullip receiving treatment off the pitch for a knock, when the home side had their chance.

Stephenson's corner was headed out at the far post by Crosby as far as Westwood, who volleyed wildly over from the edge of the area.

It was perhaps the sort of finish you would expect from a centre half.

Cullip hobbled back into the action, but he did not last much longer before teenager Virgo had to replace him.

Carpenter put the Seagulls ahead in the 37th minute.

Watson pulled a corner back to the edge of the area for Carpenter to rifle a low right-footer on the run past Williams.

It was Carpenter's fifth goal of the season and he told the Argus only yesterday that he was due another.

Kuipers was called upon again as the interval approached when he dropped on to Henderson's unwitting close range touch from Sharp's long throw.

Sharp's ability to hurl the ball deep into the penalty area had been one of the main threats from the home side.

The Seagulls turned defence into attack in thrilling fashion in first-half stoppage time.

They broke at pace from a Hartlepool corner through Brooker.

He made progress before finding Jones, up in support to his right, and the ensuing cross was headed narrowly over at the far post by Zamora.

It was a high note on which to end a half which illustrated why Albion are well on their way to promotion.

Albion's hopes of holding on to their lead were wrecked within two minutes of the restart.

Miller's shot from Henderson's pass was diverted behind by Kuipers.

Lormor met Stephenson's resulting corner with an emphatic header into the roof of the net from eight yards.

Albion responded positively and they should have regained the lead on 52 minutes.

Brooker's harmless cross from the right was patted down by keeper Williams straight to the feet of Virgo.

Cullip's 18-year-old deputy, making only his fourth senior appearance, spurned a great opportunity to score by lifting the ball over the bar.

The Seagulls did not have to wait much longer to go back in front.

Zamora's cross from the left was handled by Barron and referee Kaye pointed to the spot.

Zamora, who had a tame penalty saved against Hull last Saturday, made no mistake this time.

He sent Williams the wrong way for his 24th of the season, much to the delight of the Albion fans behind the goal.

It demonstrated considerable character on Zamora's part. Unfortunately, though, Albion were back in front for only a matter of seconds.

A team is often most vulnerable when they have just scored and the Seagulls were caught napping.

Henderson, Hartlepool's topscorer, sneaked in goalside of the defence to slot his 19th of the campaign.

Melton was introduced in the middle of midfield at the expense of a disconsolate Jones just before the hour mark.

It had been a hectic start to the second half and an action-packed encounter was now finally balanced.

Hartlepool: Anthony Williams; Darren Knowles, Michael Barron, James Sharp, Chris Westwood, Sam Shilton, Mark Tinkler, Paul Stephenson, Tommy Miller, Tony Lormor, Kevin Henderson. Subs: Hollund, Midgley, Aspin, Fitzpatrick, Clark.

Albion: Michel Kuipers; Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Andy Crosby, Paul Rogers, Gary Hart, Paul Brooker, Richard Carpenter, Nathan Jones, Bobby Zamora. Subs: Freeman, Stant, Steele, Melton, Virgo.

Referee: Mr A. Kaye (Wakefield).