Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Cheltenham Town 1

Last updated : 09 December 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Dean Hammond led Brighton into the top ten for the first time since August. The skipper scored both goals, including an 87th-minute winner from the penalty spot, to keep Cheltenham in trouble near the foot of the table.

Brighton had to work hard for their tenth win in 13 matches in all competitions, although their job would have been made easier if top-scorer Jake Robinson had taken an early chance.

A pass out of defence by Andrew Whing released Alex Revell. He cut the ball back invitingly for Robinson but the 12-goal striker shot wide.

Cheltenham, having survived that initial scare, kept Brighton at bay in an uneventful first half.

The home team only threatened on one other occasion, Robinson clevely flicking the ball over a defender's head before seeing hit shot deflected narrowly over the bar for a corner.

Cheltenham enjoyed their fair share of possession in the opening 45 minutes without troubling Brighton keeper Wayne Henderson, although Damian Spencer should have done better when he glanced a header wide.

The Seagulls made the breakthrough ten minutes into the second half. A corner from Kerry Mayo found Hammond completely unmarked beyond the far post and his firm downward header bounced into the net.

The visitors scored a surprise equaliser in the 74th minute, thanks to an inspired substitution by boss John Ward. Jamie Victory had only been on the pitch for three minutes as part of a double change when he drilled in via the foot of the post after the Brighton defence failed to clear their lines.

That threatened to give Cheltenham their first draw in League One this season but it all went wrong for them when Robinson threaded a pass through to Revell and he was brought down inside the box by Gavin Caines.

Hammond confidently converted the resulting penalty to raise his tally for the season to eight and maintain Brighton's progress towards the play-off places.