Albion were knocked out of the LDV Vans Trophy in heroic fashion last night.

Brentford won a penalty shoot-out 4-2 to reach the Southern Section quarter-finals.

Man-of-the-match Michel Kuipers saved Paul Evans' opening spot kick for the Second Division hosts.

But Seagulls substitute Darren Freeman hit the bar, then Olafur Gottsskalksson saved from regular penalty taker Paul Watson to break 10-man Albion's hearts.

A dramatic tie turned on a 55th minute red card for Albion's former Brentford centre half Danny Cullip following an off-the-ball clash with Mark McCammon.

The Seagulls led 2-1 at that stage, but McCammon took the match into extra time with a 79th minute header after Kuipers produced a string of outstanding saves.

Albion seemed on course for victory in the first half when Paul Brooker on 24 minutes and Bobby Zamora (27) with his 17th of the season put them 2-0 up.

Scott Marshall pulled one back for Brentford on 36 minutes to set up an action packed second half.

Albion made only one change to the side upset by Southend at Withdean on New Year's Day with the prolific Zamora restored to the starting line-up. The line-up included former Brentford pair Watson and Cullip.

Albion switched to a 4-4-2 formation, Brooker joining Zamora upfront and Gary Hart continuing in his role wide on the right.

Boss Micky Adams and assistant Bob Booker received a warm ovation from the Brentford fans.

Adams had a season in charge of the West Londoners, while Booker served them both as a player and on the coaching staff for a total of 22 years.

Zamora burst into the area in the fourth minute to hit an angled shot across the face of goal.

The Seagulls must have been relieved to see a decent playing surface.

Brooker fired Albion ahead midway through the half with his first goal of the season, which owed much to the persistence of Zamora.

The young marksman seemed to be second best in pursuit of a clearance down the line by Hart.

But he muscled his way passed Dobson before finding Brooker, whose crisply struck shot from 15 yards found the net via a slight deflection.

Zamora doubled Albion's advantage three minutes later with a header from Crosby's cross. It was the unstoppable teenager's third away goal of the campaign, all of which have been scored in Cup competitions.

Zamora should have put Seagulls 3-0 up on the half hour when clean through but he dragged his shot wide.

Referee Hill saw nothing wrong with a challenge by Carpenter deep inside his own half on Javary which left the Frenchman writhing in pain.

Hart was penalised moments later though and it proved costly. Ingimarsson's header from Gibbs' resulting free-kick was blocked by Mayo, but Marshall rammed the rebound home.

Albion had Kuipers to thank for staying in front two minutes into the restart.

Jones was adjudged to have brought down Evans in a central position 25 yards out.

Evans' ensuing free-kick, curled past the defensive wall, was bound for a bottom corner when Kuipers turned it behind at full stretch.

Brentford almost restored parity again moments later when a cross by former Crawley defender Lovett was headed over by McCammon.

Crosby was doing a sound job at the heart of the defence alongside Cullip in the continuing absence of Wicks.

The tie exploded ten minutes into the second half when Cullip was dramatically sent off on his return to Griffin Park.

It began with a poor goal kick by Kuipers which was eventually cleared into touch.

McCammon went down in an off-the-ball incident with Cullip and referee Hill had no hesitation in red carding Albion's central defender.

Hill was in charge of a controversial contest at Withdean last season, when he dismissed two Halifax players and Albion's Hart.

Adams responded to the dismissal with a double substitution, bringing on Melton and Virgo for his debut in place of Hart and Brooker.

Kuipers' superb second half form continued as he scrambled behind a shot on the turn by Owusu. Dobson was unfortunate not to equalise from the corner that followed by Evans when his header hit the top of the bar.

Albion were now defending desperately, but McCammon levelled for Brentford on 79 minutes with a close range header from Evans' cross which Kuipers almost kept out.

Freeman was thrown on to partner Zamora at the expense of Jones with eight minutes of normal time remaining.