Chesterfield 1, Albion 2: Bobby Zamora was the second half hero again as Albion chalked up a richly deserved victory.

Zamora followed his hat-trick after the break against Cambridge with a double to raise his tally to 24 and give Peter Taylor's Seagulls their fifth away win.

But the match will be remembered for the hotly disputed fashion in which Zamora opened the scoring on 49 minutes.

Chesterfield keeper Nathan Abbey appeared to have the ball in his hands when Zamora knocked it away from him with his left foot and into the empty net with his right.

Referee Matt Messias, positioned a long way from the incident near the halfway line, decided the goal should stand despite furious Chesterfield protests.

There could be no complaints about Zamora's second goal on 68 minutes, a stunning solo effort which started just inside the Chesterfield half.

Substitute Roger Willis set up a tense finish by pulling a goal back on 85 minutes, but Chesterfield could not repeat their revival from a 2-0 deficit at Withdean before Christmas.

Albion made one significant change to the side which beat Cambridge United 4-3 at Withdean on Saturday.

Oatway returned from rib and ankle injuries at the expense of Brooker, who was relegated to the bench.

Morgan recovered from Achilles and calf injuries as Taylor sensibly opted for experience, bearing in mind the recent history between the clubs.

Chesterfield made a couple of changes to the team which completed a hat-trick of wins at Colchester on Saturday.

Pearce came in for Booty at the back, while Ingledow took over from Williams in midfield.

Interestingly Rogers retained the captaincy, in spite of Oatway's comeback.

Albion almost went in front after 38 seconds. Watson's corner was dummied by Jones for Carpenter to strike a shot from outside the box which was going wide when Zamora missed the chance to re-direct it.

Morgan was hurt when he dived full length to bravely head clear a dangerous free kick by Ingledow under pressure from Payne. The veteran stopper needed treatment inside his own six-yard box before he was able to continue.

Albion's encouraging start continued as they forced three corners in the opening ten minutes.

Jones was booked in mysterious circumstances shortly after and Albion suffered a blow in the 19th minute when Morgan, still groggy from the earlier incident, was forced off.

Pethick, more accustomed to playing rightback, took Morgan's place in the centre of defence.

A fine save by Abbey prevented the Seagulls from taking the lead midway through the half. Jones' long ball from the left flank found Oatway running beyond Chesterfield's back four and he in turn fed Zamora.

His low shot was struck well enough but Abbey, signed from Luton at the start of the season, dived to his left to grab it.

Albion were having much the better of things. Zamora might have had a couple of goals to add to the three he scored against Cambridge.

Chesterfield, by contrast, did not force Royce into any sort of action until the 33rd minute when he made a clean catch from Ingledow's corner.

Chesterfield came into the game a bit more towards the break. Albion had a rare scare when the ball brushed off the head of Cullip, forcing Watson to clear over his own crossbar.

Royce safely gathered a long throw from Payne, then moments later provided a huge clearance which his opposite number Abbey had to head clear from the pursuing Hart on the edge of the area.

Jones produced two superb pieces of skill in quick succession to cut inside before squaring for Carpenter to have a shot blocked. Zamora was well off target from the rebound.

Albion, with a strong wind at their backs in the second half, went ahead four minutes into the restart in the most controversial manner imaginable.

Zamora, chasing a long ball over the top by Cullip, could not get a shot in.

Abbey collected and appeared to have the ball under control when Zamora knocked it out of his hands and into the empty net.

Abbey raced upfield to protest but referee Messias, standing five yards inside the Chesterfield half, decided the goal should stand.

Furious home fans bellowed: "Cheat" as Innes was cautioned for carrying his complaints too far.

Zamora's cheeky effort also evoked memories of a goal by George Parris for Albion at the Goldstone, when he emerged from behind the net to dispossess the Bristol Rovers keeper.

Chesterfield were still wound up when Parrish was cautioned for dissent on 52 minutes.

Watson, already banned from Albion's next home game against Cardiff for five bookings, collected a yellow card five minutes later for body-checking Burt.

Their could be no argument about the goal which doubled Albion's advantage on 68 minutes. Zamora had both Pearce and Edwards for company when he picked up possession a few yards inside the Chesterfield half.

He outpaced the pair before lashing a powerful left foot drive past Abbey, a superb solo effort.

Zamora limped off five minutes from time to further cries of: "Cheat" from the Chesterfield fans, with Steele taking his place.

Zamora had been off the pitch for a matter of seconds when Chesterfield pulled a goal back, substitute Willis stretching to volley in Burt's right-wing cross.