Albion skipper Paul Rogers launched his team towards their 16th Withdean win out of 19 against lowly Lincoln last night.

The skipper led by example with his sixth goal of the season for the promotion-bound Seagulls on 34 minutes.

Bobby Zamora's 26th of the campaign on 67 minutes rounded off another impressive home performance by Micky Adams' men.

Zamora recovered from the ankle and hand injuries he sustained in the previous home game against Mansfield.

Cullip returned from ankle and elbow ligament damage, so Jones and Virgo dropped to the bench.

The Lincoln line-up included Albion reject Cameron, who was forced off by a bruised thigh in their 2-1 defeat at Scunthorpe last week.

Lincoln carried the game to Albion in the early stages, but it was the Seagulls who came closest to scoring.

Hart fooled Bimson with a lovely piece of skill down the right before crossing for Lincoln-born Melton to head straight at Marriott.

Hart was looking particularly sharp. His angled shot from Brooker's pass was deflected into the side netting by Bimson.

Watson's resulting corner was pushed out by Marriott only as far as Zamora, who hooked well over the bar.

Hart threatened again shortly after with a well-struck shot from a central position 25 yards out which Marriott tipped over.

Crosby had his name taken in the 19th minute for a tackle from behind on Cameron near halfway.

The Seagulls' stopper protested to referee Paul Taylor that he had won the ball, but such challenges rarely escape punishment these days.

Melton was slightly fortunate to avoid a yellow card for a rash challenge on Walker.

In between Zamora headed wide as Marriott failed to claim Brooker's cross from the left. The Lincoln goalkeeper did much better on 28 minutes, keeping out Zamora's angled header from a Watson centre with a brilliant left-handed stop.

Although Albion had by now asserted their superiority, the visitors came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock with a fierce long range effort from Finnigan which struck the underside of the bar.

Rogers showed his liking for Lincoln yet again to put Albion in front eleven minutes from the break.

Mayo's long throw was allowed to bounce inside the box for the skipper to steer a header beyond Marriott from six yards.

It was Rogers' fourth goal in the last four clashes between the sides, having scored in last season's 2-2 draw at Withdean and twice in a 3-1 victory for the Seagulls at Sincil Bank.

Albion continued to create chances, Brooker combining with Mayo to test Marriott once more with a low drive.

Holmes, who opened the scoring in Albion's 2-0 defeat at Lincoln in August, should have levelled approaching the break with a free downward header from Walker's corner which lacked the necessary power to beat Kuipers.

Barnett collected Lincoln's first caution of a lively contest six minutes into the restart for a foul from behind on Brooker.

The visitors had done enough to suggest they were not finished yet and Bimson curled a free-kick narrowly over following a foul by Rogers on Battersby.

Cameron almost scored against the Seagulls for the second time this season, Kuipers keeping out his right foot stab at the expense of a corner.

Inevitably it was Zamora who doubled Albion's advantage midway through the second half.

Brooker's low cross was swept home with a left foot shot on the turn by the unstoppable young marksmen.

Zamora could have completed a quickfire hat-trick, but he was just wide when clean through and then sliced another chance wide of the target moments later.

With another three promotion points seemingly in the bag, Oatway was brought on for Carpenter 14 minutes from time.

Thomas also replaced Melton and Jones came on for Brooker in the closing stages.