Guy Butters had a nostalgic reunion this week with some of his old Gillingham colleagues, in unwanted circumstances.

The out-of-favour centre half helped Dean White's reserves to a 4-1 victory over the Gills on a boggy pitch at Woodside Road, Worthing.

A Wednesday afternoon outing in the Avon Insurance Combination League in front of a handful of spectators is a far cry from a full house at Withdean for the former Tottenham and Portsmouth stopper.

"Obviously I wish it was in the first team," Butters said. "It was good to see a few faces again that I hadn't seen for a while.

"The pitch was a bit of a state, but it was a good result for us in the end."

Butters' move has not panned out as he would have wished since former manager Martin Hinshelwood signed him on a Bosman free transfer from Gillingham in August.

The 33-year-old was left out after a run of six games to work on his fitness. His solitary first team appearance since then was in Steve Coppell's first match in charge, the 4-2 home defeat by Sheffield United in October.

Butters has been confined to a diet of reserve team football. He found himself in good company on Wednesday, marshalling the defence alongside Dean Blackwell as the ex-Wimbledon stopper continued his comeback from hamstring trouble.

"There is a lot of competition for places, which you can tell by the quality of the players in the reserve side at the moment, so it all looks good for the future," said Butters.

"I've got a year left after this one. I am still getting my head down, playing reserve games and doing the best I can in training.

"It is just a case of biding my time and seeing what happens. If a few injuries or suspensions crop up then hopefully I will get a chance.

"Dean Blackwell played on Wednesday as well, and young Hinsh (Adam Hinshelwood), so you have got quite a few players vying for a few places. That is good for the club."

Competition at the heart of the defence will be further increased once Adam Virgo returns in February from his extended loan stint with Exeter.

"If we don't win for four or five games or are beaten heavily the manager might change things around and if he does you have got to be fit enough to go in there and do the business," said Butters.

"Until that time I will keep on with my training. There's nothing else I can do really."

One forthcoming fixture will catch Butters' eye.

Albion go to the Priestfield Stadium on March 1 and he will want to make amends for his third League start for the Seagulls in Gillingham's 4-2 victory at Withdean in September.