FRASER McLachlan's 41st minute header wasn't enough to give County their first win in eight games.

An eqaulising header by Adam Virgo in the 52nd minute kept Sammy McIlroy's side well rooted in the relegation places.

McIlroy made five changes to the side that lost 4-1 at Notts County, most notably the return of Irish Under-21 striker Jon Daly, whose loan spell at Bury was cut short to return to Edgeley Park as the lone striker, Stuart Barlow dropping to the bench.

Anthony Williams returned as keeper in place of James Spencer, who had injured his neck in training, while there was no place on the spot or pitch for either John Hardiker or Ali Gibb, Rob Clare and Lee Cartwright replacing them.Fraser McLachlan was back in the midfield, taking Mark Byrne's place.

Mark Robertson was the first to try his luck with an 11th minutes trike that whistled past the post.Not that there were many chances for either side as tentative football was demanded by the bobbling pitch.

Rob Clare on his 21st birthday had a good opportunity when Danny Griffin's free-kick was cleared to him on the right, but his looping effort was just wide.

Any inroads County made were down the left where Andy Welsh and Danny Jackman were combing well.Welsh was unlucky when he sold a defender a dummy and gave himself half-a-yard, but his driulled shot was deflected inches wide.

It all changed in the 41st minute when Jackman curled in a pacy cross that was met by McLachlaan who rose between two defenders on the edge of the box. His looping header caught out keeper Ben Roberts who had moved opff his line and could only watch as the header went over him.

At the other end Williams pulled off a great save in first-half injury-time tipping over Trevor Benjamin's header from Nathan Jones's free-kick.

But Brighton dealt County an early blow in the second-half. A corner from Nathan Jones to the back post was met by the rising Adam Virgo, whose header put Mark McGhee's side back on level terms in the 52nd minute.

And the Seagulls could have taken the lead in the 72nd minute but Clare blocked Jones's header on the line.

Chris McPhee was booked for diving under pressure from Rickie Lambert in the penalty area.

Lambert was inches away from a spectacular goal when he spotted Roberts off his line and tried his luck from 35 yards. His superb strike was only just over the crossbar.

The game threatened to erupt into a a mass brawl as County attempted to make a substitution. McIlroy threw the ball to Harding and Roberts rushed from his goal to get involved.

Players from both sides ran to the touchline to back up their team-mates, but good work from referee Andy Penn sorted the melee out with the Brighton keeper the only one booked.

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