Elliott Bennett's dramatic stoppage-time penalty secured Brighton's League One status next season following a hard-earned win over Bristol Rovers.
Bennett struck in the fifth minute of added time after Ashley Barnes was fouled in the box by Daniel Jones.
Andy Williams put Rovers ahead in the 11th minute from Carl Regan's cross.
On-loan striker Barnes levelled six minutes later but both teams finished the game with 10 men as Glenn Murray and Danny Coles were red carded.
Brighton boss Gus Poyet told BBC Sussex: "We were good enough to come back, especially with Ashley Barnes.
"He's been so good for us - he got a goal from nothing and probably one of the best we've seen this year. That gave us the extra bit to keep playing and keep trying.
"We changed the shape and the players adapted well to playing one man down.
"Elliott Bennett went to another gear and Ashley was different class all game. We were organised, we waited and we didn't let them create any chances. We put a great effort in."
Bristol Rovers manager Paul Trollope told BBC Radio Bristol: "It was a cruel blow at the end of a committed, spirited performance.
"We had some young players out there, who performed to a good level and for the majority of the game there were some very good things that I saw.
"It's massively frustrating, there's been quite a few away games of late where we've lost late on having played to a good level.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 24 April 2010
League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Brighton
2-1
Bristol Rovers
FT
(HT 1-1)
Barnes 17
Bennett (pen) 90+6
Williams 11
Brighton
29 Brezovan
04 Elphick
06 El-Abd yellow card
22 Painter
27 Hoyte yellow card
08 Navarro (Diego Arismendi 90+2)
20 Crofts
26 Bennett yellow card
34 Hendrie (Dicker 74)
33 Holroyd (Murray 61 red card)
36 Barnes
Substitutes
13 Walker,
23 Virgo,
30 Cook,
14 Diego Arismendi,
18 Dicker,
21 Carole,
17 Murray
Bristol Rovers
27 Andersen
02 Regan
05 Coles yellow card, red card
48 Jones yellow card
04 Lines
07 Campbell
11 Hughes yellow card
20 Reece
23 Swallow (Richard 63)
08 Williams (Wright 90+3)
10 Duffy
Substitutes
51 Evans,
31 Cooper,
03 Wright,
21 Clough,
36 McKenna,
28 Richard,
33 Clarke
Ref: SarginsonAtt: 6,922
BRIGHTON
BRISTOL ROVERS
Possession
Brighton54%
Bristol Rovers46%
Attempts on target
Brighton3
Bristol Rovers2
Attempts off target
Brighton8
Bristol Rovers1
Corners
Brighton4
Bristol Rovers2
Fouls
Brighton11
Bristol Rovers12
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+7:42 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
90:00+2:45 Ashley Barnes fouled by Daniel Jones, the ref awards a Penalty.
90:00+2:04 Substitution Mark Wright comes on in place of Andrew Williams.
90:00+1:34 Substitution Alan Navarro leaves the field to be replaced by Diego Arismendi.
89:17 Elliott Bennett has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.
86:26 Corner taken right-footed by Stuart Campbell, save by Peter Brezovan.
84:30 Foul by Charles Reece on Marcos Painter, free kick awarded. Peter Brezovan restarts play with the free kick.
81:45 Foul by Gary Dicker on Elliot Richard, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Chris Lines.
77:28 Elliott Bennett produces a cross, Header on goal by Ashley Barnes from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
77:28 Sent off Danny Coles is shown a red card.
77:21 Unfair challenge on Ashley Barnes by Danny Coles results in a free kick.
73:28 Substitution Gary Dicker is brought on as a substitute for Lee Hendrie.
71:12 Booking Daniel Jones goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
70:43 Sent off The referee red cards Glenn Murray for serious foul play.
69:37 Stuart Campbell concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Hendrie. Alan Navarro delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, save made by Mikkel Andersen.
68:11 Mikkel Andersen restarts play with the free kick.
68:11 Booking Elliott Bennett is cautioned.
67:55 Elliott Bennett gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jeff Hughes.
64:58 Corner from the right by-line taken by Elliott Bennett, Glenn Murray produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.
63:58 Ashley Barnes takes a shot. Save made by Mikkel Andersen.
63:28 The official flags Darryl Duffy offside. Indirect free kick taken by Adam El-Abd.
62:53 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Coles by Glenn Murray. Free kick taken by Danny Coles.
62:23 Substitution Elliot Richard joins the action as a substitute, replacing Ben Swallow.
60:38 Substitution Chris Holroyd goes off and Glenn Murray comes on.
56:46 Foul by Stuart Campbell on Ashley Barnes, free kick awarded. The ball is swung over by Elliott Bennett, Adam El-Abd has a header from close in and clears the crossbar.
52:43 Chris Holroyd is ruled offside. Carl Regan restarts play with the free kick.
46:29 Outswinging corner taken by Elliott Bennett from the right by-line, Header by Adam El-Abd from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
46:00 Jeff Hughes concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Holroyd. Direct free kick taken by Alan Navarro.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+3:15 The referee blows for half time.
45:00+2:25 Unfair challenge on Ben Swallow by Adam El-Abd results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jeff Hughes.
44:55 Foul by Tommy Elphick on Darryl Duffy, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Stuart Campbell.
Correction - 42:29 Chris Lines fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
42:29 Free kick taken by Chris Lines, Tommy Elphick takes a shot.
42:29 Booking Gavin Hoyte goes into the book.
Correction - 42:19 Gavin Hoyte concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Swallow.
42:19 Unfair challenge on Ben Swallow by Gavin Hoyte results in a free kick.
40:17 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Elliott Bennett, clearance by Charles Reece. Corner taken right-footed by Elliott Bennett, Tommy Elphick concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Coles. Mikkel Andersen takes the free kick.
36:35 Free kick crossed right-footed by Alan Navarro from left channel.
36:35 Booking The referee shows Danny Coles a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
36:16 Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Coles on Chris Holroyd.
33:57 Unfair challenge on Stuart Campbell by Lee Hendrie results in a free kick. Ben Swallow delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel.
33:15 Andrew Williams concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam El-Abd. Direct free kick taken by Adam El-Abd.
29:20 Andrew Crofts challenges Stuart Campbell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Stuart Campbell.
27:51 Effort on goal by Lee Hendrie from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
26:43 Ashley Barnes is penalised for a handball. Daniel Jones restarts play with the free kick.
24:47 Elliott Bennett delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance by Jeff Hughes.
24:47 Booking Jeff Hughes goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
24:26 Elliott Bennett fouled by Jeff Hughes, the ref awards a free kick.
23:04 Shot from 35 yards by Chris Holroyd went wide of the left-hand post.
21:09 Effort on goal by Ashley Barnes from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
20:35 Ben Swallow gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gavin Hoyte. Free kick crossed right-footed by Elliott Bennett from right wing.
18:58 Chris Lines restarts play with the free kick.
18:58 Booking Booking for Adam El-Abd.
18:51 Unfair challenge on Darryl Duffy by Adam El-Abd results in a free kick.
16:46 Assist by Adam El-Abd.
16:46 GOAL - Ashley Barnes:Brighton 1 - 1 Bristol Rovers A goal is scored by Ashley Barnes from just outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Brighton 1-1 Bristol Rovers.
Correction - 15:09 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darryl Duffy by Adam El-Abd. Stuart Campbell crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, save made by Peter Brezovan.
15:09 Unfair challenge on Darryl Duffy by Adam El-Abd results in a free kick. Stuart Campbell crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance made by Peter Brezovan.
10:45 Assist by Carl Regan.
10:45 GOAL - Andrew Williams:Brighton 0 - 1 Bristol Rovers Andrew Williams fires in a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Brighton 0-1 Bristol Rovers.
8:26 Stuart Campbell takes the outswinging corner, Header on goal by Chris Lines from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
5:30 Stuart Campbell challenges Lee Hendrie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam El-Abd restarts play with the free kick.
4:33 The referee blows for offside against Ashley Barnes. Indirect free kick taken by Mikkel Andersen.
3:04 Foul by Chris Lines on Lee Hendrie, free kick awarded. Alan Navarro restarts play with the free kick.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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