Seagulls soar to victory

The only change during that prolific period for the Seagulls has been in goal.

First choice Mark Cartwright is out until next month after hernia surgery, so Dutchman Michel Kuipers made his sixth successive appearance between the posts.

The rain was really bucketing down as the match got under way.

Both sides demonstrated a desire to pass in the opening stages, although conditions were far from ideal for that, with the ball holding up in surface spray.

Albion made a dream start with a goal in the fourth minute.

Hart did well to get a cross in from the right which the Darlington defence failed to clear as the heads went up.

Jones, in space on the far side of the area, lashed in a low left-foot drive from 12 yards.

It was the fifth goal of the season for the left-sided midfielder, signed in the summer from Southend following a purple patch of four in six games for the Welshman last month.

Hart's key contribution maintained his liking for Darlington - he has scored in three of the previous four meetings between the teams.

Albion were thankful to Kuipers for a fine save to preserve their lead.

Oatway, on the brink of a second suspension, was lectured by referee Uriah Rennie for a challenge on home captain Gray midway inside the Seagulls' half.

Reed met Elliott's resulting free-kick with a header which Kuipers kept out one-handed, diving to his right.

Rennie was giving Albion indigestion with some of his free-kick decisions against them, but they were oozing confidence.

There was a good example of this when Carpenter picked out Watson with a lovely crossfield pass after industrious work by Jones.

The rightback's progress into the area was interrupted by Tait at the expense of a throw-in.

Hart was giving Tait, signed recently from Bolton, a pretty torrid time with his pace and endeavour.

The Seagulls were a little fortunate midway through the half when Naylor put Hodgson clear on the left flank.

The former Nottingham Forest man, well-known to Adams from his period as reserve coach at the City ground, saw his cross cut out by Kuipers as the unmarked Nogan gesticulated in frustration at the far post.

It was comforting to see Kuipers in such commanding form in conditions especially disturbing for goalkeepers.

Referee Rennie played a good advantage when Jones was dumped on the floor by Reed midway inside Albion territory.

They eventually forced a corner before the Sheffield official ticked off the Darlington defender for his tackle.

Zamora, with nine home goals behind him, was holding the ball up well at times and getting through a lot of work down the middle.

The Seagulls had a rare scare when Hodgson's corner on the half-hour - Darlington's first of the contest - flew over Kuipers and out of play on the other side of the pitch.

Darlington levelled 11 minutes from the break with a goal which had an element of good fortune about it.

Clever work by Nogan sent Hodgson scurrying into space.

He cut inside the area for a shot which was blocked by Wicks.

The Albion defender didn't know much about it and the ball fell kindly for Naylor to slot his sixth goal in five games.

Zamora crashed to the ground shortly after in an incident involving Aspin, but Rennie decided no action was necessary once the Seagulls' top scorer had received treatment.

The equaliser roused the home fans and Nogan's lack of control let him down when well placed from Hodgson's cross.

At the other end Reed's misplaced pass allowed Jones to find Zamora but he was eventually crowded out.

Albion were forced into a substitution on 42 minutes, Steele replacing the injured Oatway.

Steele took up his customary role as an orthodox striker as Adams switched to a 4-4-2 formation.

Wicks failed to connect properly with a cross from Mayo in a bid to restore Albion's advantage approaching the interval, then Hart shot wide following Mayo's long throw.

A rare error by Cullip gave Butler possession 30 yards out.

The on-loan Sunderland midfielder failed to make the most of it, firing well wide.

Darlington enjoyed more of the possession in the early stages of the second half.

A lapse by Carpenter allowed Hodgson to feed Nogan inside the box. Fortunately for the Seagulls he trod on the ball, so the chance evaporated.

Wicks showed a good turn of speed when Nogan tried to cut inside him inside the area.

Steele was looking quite lively after his early introduction, but Albion were struggling to make headway into Darlington territory at this stage of the match.

Both teams made substitutions in the 56th minute. Brooker came on for Zamora for Albion, while Hjorth replaced Nogan for Darlington.

Butler had a shock deflected over the crossbar after getting the better of Mayo.

This prompted an angry exchange of words between Mayo and team-mate Jones.

Darlington were doing most of the pressing now and a cross by Elliott dipped just over the bar as Kuipers back-pedalled.

Hart looked for a penalty, more in hope than expectation, when he went down inside the box.

A glance to his linesman confirmed Rennie's view that nothing untoward had happened.

The pressure was mounting on Albion as Kuipers produced another fine save to foil Reed's header from Elliott's free-kick on the left.

Substitute Hjorth, set up by Butler, had a fierce effort blocked by Wicks moments later.

Just as it seemed Darlington were getting on top, Albion surged back in front.

Brooker escaped down the right to cross low for fellow sub Steele, who steered in his first goal for the club from close range.

A minute later Hart side-footed wide a volley from another Brooker centre.

Albion brought on Melton for Jones with 20 minutes left.

Darlington: Andy Collett, Craig Liddle, Adam Reed, Neil Aspin, Martin Gray, Lee Nogan, Stuart Elliott, Glenn Naylor, Richard Hodgson, Thomas Butler, Jordan Tait. Subs: Hjorth, Atkinson, Walklate, Angel, Van der Geest.

Albion: Michel Kuipers, Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Paul Rogers, Gary Hart, Charlie Oatway, Richard Carpenter, Nathan Jones, Matthew Wicks, Bobby Zamora. Subs: Steele, Crosby, Thomas, Melton, Brooker.

Referee: Mr U. Rennie (Sheffield).