Before just 628 of their own supporters, Wimbledon ran up their first win of the season thanks to a Neil Shipperley penalty that was navigated into the net off a left-hand post.
But it had to be that the outstanding Joel McAnuff had a vital hand in the goal. It was his pass to Wayne Gray that resulted in a trip by Danny Cullip.
But Wimbledon's major question will be one of survival. The official attendance was 2,522 and of the Dons' small percentage obviously some included no show season ticket holders.
The move to Milton Keynes is proposed for before Christmas but their future even in a new environment looks doubtful as does their ability to hold on to the talents of McAnuff as they leak an estimated £20,000 a week.
McAnuff very nearly got himself onto the scoring sheet in the 88th minute but his stinging drive was inches too high in one of the rare shooting occasions of the afternoon.
In the 26th minute he had seen his cross taken by goalkeeper Michels Kuipers and after 34 minutes the Dutchman dealt with his 35-yard drive for a Brighton side lacking the prodigious scoring talents of Bobby Zamora.
The replacement by veteran midweek signing Paul Kitson was a sad exchange as Zamora's return from injury is not due until next month and the Seagulls will find it hard going without him.
Kitson showed brief snatches of his former glories particularly in the 24th minute when he beat Peter Hawkins but his good work ended with a weak shot on the turn. He obviously lacks match fitness.
In the 83rd minute Charlie Oatway saw his point-blank range header saved by the Dons goalkeeper Kelvin Davis but that was one of the very rare scoring opportunities for the visitors