Brighton & Hove Albion 1 - 1 Leyton Orient
Coca-Cola League One

NICKY FORSTER'S last minute penalty denied Orient a vital three point haul at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

The O's looked to be heading back level on points with sixth-placed Tranmere Rovers when Jabo Ibehre headed them into the lead with ten minutes left to play, but Adam Chambers handled in the area and Forster punished the visitors fron the spot.

It was probably a fair conclusion to an exciting game, following a first half which Brighton edged and a second period which saw Orient take over.

Sean Thornton's deflected shot dropped wide of Michel Kuipers' left hand post in the third minute, and from the resulting corner, Sam Oji just failed to get the touch required to convert Thornton's delivery.

The early signs were that we were in for an open game and Brighton's Dean Bowditch was presented with an excellent opportunity to give the home side the lead in the 10th minute when Glenn Murray got up well to nod the ball into his path.  Bowditch went for the lob, but got too much on the shot and sent the ball off target.

Orient moved play to the other end and came even closer to breaking the deadlock with Wayne Gray rising at the far post to head Adam Chambers' chipped centre back across Seagulls stopper Michel Kuipers.  Defender Tommy Elphick got himself back to nod off the line.

Nine minutes later, Glenn Morris - back in the side for Stuart Nelson - came to the left hand side of his penalty area to collect a dangerous through ball with Forster lurking.  However, Morris' momentum carried him out of the 18-yard box and referee Paul Melin punished him with a yellow card.

Dean Cox's resulting free kick was easily cleared, but Brighton worked the ball back into the box, and after Forster headed towards Murray, a goal looked on the cards.  Orient breathed a sigh of relief, though, when the January signing nodded over from close range.

With 22 minutes on the clock, Murray again used his aerial ability to reach Cox's cross at the far post.  This time his header was on target, but directed straight at Morris, who easily saved.

Bowditch then volleyed wide from the edge of the penalty area as Brighton continued to apply the pressure.

Orient were given a let off on 29 when Thornton, in trying to pass the ball back to Brian Saah, presented Murray with a free run on goal.  The home striker took the ball around Morris, and although he was forced wide, he still managed to cut back to Cox, whose shot was turned around by the O's stopper.

Paul Terry lofted an effort over the home crossbar on 38 after a flowing break took Orient deep into Brighton territory, but the Seagulls went close once again three minutes later when Bowditch won an aerial battle with Aiden Palmer at the far post to nod Cox's cross goalwards, only to see Morris dive low to his left to save.

Brighton continued to press for the opener before the break and in stoppage time, Forster took the ball around Morris and shot for goal from a tight angle, but Oji was there to clear.

The second half started at a less frenetic pace and it wasn't until the 59th minute that either side created a chance.  Terry was the man with it, sending a well-executed volley towards goal from the edge of the box, but unfortunately directing his fierce effort straight at Kuipers, who grabbed the ball out of the air.

Morris was rounded for the third time of the afternoon on 63 when Murray stole possession from Oji on the edge of the box to create a chance for himself.  Again he was forced wide by the O's stopper, and when he worked the ball back to Forster, who sliced the ball wide of the far post.

Following a feast of chances in the first half, the second period was proving somewhat tighter.  Martin Ling brought Adam Boyd from the bench to try and unlock the Seagulls' backline, and with 16 minutes left to play he was involved in an Orient break that ended with Jason Demetriou forcing a good low stop from Kuipers.

Two minutes later, a scramble in the Brighton box saw Terry's shot deflect into Ibehre's path, but the O's striker scooped over when it seemed easier to hit the target.

Ibehre more than made up for it with ten minutes left to play, though, sending a superb header beyond Kuipers' reach and into the back of the net.  Morris began the move, claiming a Tommy Fraser corner and immediately launching a huge throw to Demetriou.  The O's winger advanced down the left flank before crossing for Ibehre to do the rest.

Brighton's Matt Richards curled a free kick inches over the top two minutes from time, but the home side were given the chance to level in the final minute when what looked like a harmless lofted pass into the box bounced up and off Chambers' arm.

Referee Melin pointed to the spot and Forster sent Morris the wrong way with his well-struck low penalty to ensure honours would end even.

Brighton: Kuipers; Whing, Elphick, El-Abd, Richards; Bowditch Robinson 67), Thomson, Fraser (Dixon 84), Cox (Martot 75); Forster, Murray
Subs: Lynch, Hart

Goal: Forster (pen 90)

Leyton Orient: Morris; Purches, Saah, Oji (Thelwell 73), Palmer; Thornton (Barcham 75), Chambers, Terry, Demetriou; Gray (Boyd 71), Ibehre
Subs: Nelson (GK), Daniels

Goal: Ibehre (80)

Booked: Morris

Referee: Paul Melin (Surrey)

Attendance: 6,242 (542 away)