By Tim Dudding, at Withdean

An injury time goal from Francis Laurent stunned the Seagulls and gave Southend victory in this entertaining battle of the sea-side resorts.

Nicky Forster was again the goal hero for Albion, netting a first-half brace to twice cancel out goals from Lee Barnard and Roy O'Donovan to take his tremendous run to seven goals in five games.

The Seagulls threw everything but the kitchen sink at the visitors in the second half but could find the elusive winner, and with the seconds ticking away, Laurent's solo effort secured all three points for the Shrimpers.

Albion's defence, water-tight in the last two games, was breached as early as the eighth minute here, and it just had to be Barnard. The Southend hotshot carried on where he left off following his brace on his last visit in March, this time diving low to head Simon Francis's cross into the bottom corner.

The Seagulls, of course, have an in-form striker of their own, and Forster soon had a chance to equalise. After a flowing move, Elliott Bennett's cross landed to the veteran in the area, but snatched at his effort and dragged his shot wide.

But in his current form a goal from Forster was almost inevitable, and ten minutes later, having been played clean in by Adam Barrett's backward header, the Seagulls striker rounded Steve Mildenhall and clipped the ball into the gaping net.

If Barrett was at fault for Albion's equaliser, then the Southend defender more than made amends in the 27th minute. Following another spell of pressure from the visitors, Barrett's looping header had Albion's defence wrong-footed, and debutant Donovan had the simplest of finishes on the line to put Southend back in front.

Albion remained positive, and Tommy Elphick forced Mildenhall to tip the ball over the bar from Bennett's centre, and from the ensuing corner, Gary Dicker's deflected volley struck the woodwork.

It was a pulsating first period, and five minutes before the break Albion pulled level for a second time, and no prizes for guessing who. The monstrous Jean Yves Mvoto made a hash of dealing with James Tunnicliffe's massive punt, and Forster instinctively drilled the ball past Mildenhall with his left foot.

As a spectacle the game just kept on giving, and Southend should have gone into the break ahead. Johnny Herd crossed brilliantly into the area, but fortunately for the Seagulls, the unmarked Jean-Francois Christophe headed over the bar.

The second half was equally as enthralling, and Forster came close to netting his hat-trick after playing a one-two with Arron Davies, but his first-time volley was saved on the line by Mildenhall.

Elphick then had his second sight of goal, but although this header was on target, it was routine for Mildenhall.

So far Forster had stolen the limelight, but Liam Dicksinson had been working tirelessly beside him, and in the 72nd minute the former Derby man came close to giving Albion the lead. Bennett crossed low from the right to Dickinson, but he swept the ball agonisingly across the face of goal.

It would be Dickinson's final contribution, and his replacement, Craig Davies, soon made an impression. Fellow substitute Dean Cox whipped in a cross from the left, and Davies chested down perfectly for Bennett to run on to, but the winger's curling shot cannoned against the crossbar.

Cox then smashed a low shot wide of the mark after Virgo's free-kick had been charged down.

But in injury time all of Albion's hard work was undone when, with the Albion bench appealing for a foul on Bennett, substitute Francis Laurent outpaced Elphick down the left and slotted the ball past Kuipers and into the far corner.

Albion: (4-4-2) Kuipers; Virgo, Elphick, Tunnicliffe, El-Abd; Bennett, Dicker, Crofts, A Davies (Cox 73); Forster (Hart 84), Dickinson (C Davies 73). Subs not used: Pelling (GK), C Davies, Wright, Navarro, Thornhill.

Southend: (4-4-2) Mildenhall; Francis, Barrett, Mvoto (Sankofa 45), Herd (Friend 49); Grant, McCormack, Christophe, Moussa; Barnard, Donovan (Laurent 74). Subs not used: Freedman, O'Keefe, Joyce (GK), Sawyer.

Attendance: 6287 (594 Southend)

Referee: Graham Horwood.

Yellow Cards: None.