Cheltenham Town 1 Brighton & HA 0. An early Ian Westlake goal has given Cheltenham Town a half-time lead over relegation rivals Brighton at Whaddon Road today, writes James McNamara.

Westlake, playing the last game of a three-month loan spell, struck in the seventh minute with a beautifully stroked effort through a crowd of players in the penalty area with his weaker right foot.

The energetic Leeds midfielder almost doubled the lead in the 32nd minute with a deftly-placed chip from the edge of the box that had to be desperately parried away by Brighton goalkeeper John Sullivan.

Skipper John Finnigan also had a vicious volley from the edge of the box deflected behind for a corner in a first half dominated by Martin Allen's men.

The Cheltenham boss has had the luxury of an almost fully-fit squad to choose from after injuries have blighted the side's progress in recent weeks and have been under little pressure from Micky Adams' team – which includes former Whaddon Road loanee Stuart Fleetwood. Brighton have been on a nightmare run of just one win in their last twelve outings.

Allen made four changes from the side that crashed out of the FA Cup at Doncaster. Finnigan returned from suspension and there were also places in the side for loanees Westwood and Nicholas Bignall, who were both ineligible for the clash at the Keepmoat Stadium. David Bird switched to right-back in place of Andy Lindegaard, while Alan Wright failed to shake off the effects of a calf strain picked up on Tuesday.

Cheltenham Town (4-4-2): Brown; Bird, Westwood, Duff, Ridley; Vincent, Finnigan, Westlake, Bignall; Hammond, Owusu. Subs not used: Low, Russell, Gallinagh, Puddy, Watkins.

Brighton & HA (4-4-2): Sullivan; Virgo, Hinshelwood, Elphick, Whing; Birchall, Fraser, El-Abd, McLeod; Fleetwood, Forster. Subs not used: Kuipers, Cox, Livermore, Hawkins, Loft.