Brighton maintained their play-off hopes with a third win in four games when they beat Gillingham 4-2 at the Withdean Stadium.An eventful match saw Gillingham finish with nine men following the sendings off of Garry Richards in the first half and Sean Clohessy eight minutes from time.

Skipper Andrew Crofts fired Gillingham into a fourth minute lead with a stunning 35-yard drive, but the Kent side lost Richards to a straight red card for a late challenge on David Martot.

Almost straight away the Seagulls levelled when ex-Brighton captain Danny Cullip pushed Glenn Murray in the box and Nicky Forster tucked away the penalty against his former club.

Defender Adam El-Abd drove the Seagulls ahead from close range two minutes before half-time after keeper Derek Stillie parried a free-kick by Matt Richards on to the bar, before Tommy Elphick effectively sealed the points for Brighton on the stroke of half-time by heading in a corner by Tommy Fraser.

Substitute Jake Robinson hit Brighton's fourth five minutes after his introduction, drilling in a low shot from 12 yards after a goalbound effort by Andrew Whing was blocked and although Crofts cracked his second on the volley to punish a mistake by keeper Michel Kuipers, the Gills were left with nine men due to the sending off of Clohessy who was dismissed for two bookable offences.

More Football News from TEAMtalk