A brace from in-form hotshot Nicky Forster fired Albion to their first victory at Brunton Park for almost ten years.

Forster was at his mischievous best, tormenting the Carlisle defence all afternoon and securing Albion's second consecutive victory with his fourth and fifth goals of the campaign.

Albion have been overrun on this ground in recent years, but Forster's delicate lob in only the fourth minute gave the Seagulls a dream start in the Cumbrian sunshine.

The Carlisle defence only half-cleared another long-bow throw-in from James Tunnicliffe, and when Gary Dicker headed back into the area, the ball eventually fell to Forster, who had time to dink a lovely little effort over the stranded Lenny Pidgeley and inside the far post.

Forster might have doubled the lead later in the half after being released by a perfectly-weighted pass from Liam Dicksinon. Danny Livesey gave chase and bundled over the Albion striker, but referee Andy Haines thought the challenge fair and waved play-on.

Just after the half-hour Albion came close again when Arron Davies, quiet up until now, had the Carlisle defence back-pedalling before curling a 20-yard effort just past the upright.

Michel Kuipers, at the other end, was largely untroubled in the first period. He did tip Tommy Elphick's defensive header over the bar, while a 20-yard shot from former Albion loanee Joe Anyinsah was comfortable for the Dutchman.

Kevan Hurst had Carlisle's best effort of the half, thumping a 25-yard effort narrowly past the corner of post and bar.

But the home side were much more dominant after the break, immediately putting Albion under pressure after the restart. Anyinsah went agonisingly close, getting to Robson's near-post cross first but saw his shot blocked by the excellent Tunnicliffe.

Anyinsah was looking the most likely to score, but he could only scuff his shot from Graham Kavanagh's low cross and the Albion keeper saved with ease.

Albion's back four worked tirelessly to withstand the pressure, and when Andrew Crofts won possession just inside the Carlisle half with a ferocious tackle, Elliott Bennett was released Dickinson down the left. The striker curled in a low cross to the six yard box, where Forster arrived right on cue, and stabbed the ball home with ease from close range.

He might have had a hat-trick when he followed up the rebound from Gary Dicker's volley, but the striker was marginally off-side.

Albion had to battle to keep their clean sheet in tact, and rode their luck when Richard Offiong was gifted a free header from close range, but the substitute's effort was kept out by Kuipers's foot.

Offiong threatened again moments later, but was denied by Kuipers a second time, on this occasion at the near post.

Forster broke away in injury time but couldn't beat Pidgeley on the angle. So no hat-trick for the veteran striker, but another welcome victory for the Seagulls.

Carlisle: (4-4-2) Pidgeley; Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Harte; Hurst (Madine 72), Kavanagh (Taiwo 72), Thirlwell, Robson; Dobie (Offiong 64), Anyinsah. Subs not used: Collin (GK), Horwood, Bridge-Wilkinson, Kane.

Albion: (4-4-2) Kuipers; Virgo, Elphick, Tunnicliffe, El-Abd; Bennett (Thornhill 89), Dicker, Crofts, A Davies; Forster, Dickinson (Hart 76). Subs not used: G Smith (GK), C Davies, Navarro, Wright, McLeod.

Attendance: 5368

Referee: Andy Haines

Yellow Cards: Anyinsah (Carlisle); El-Abd, Dicker, Dickinson, Davies (Albion).