Three of Albion's fringe first-teamers grabbed timely goals last night.

Rod Thomas, Scott Ramsay and Steve Melton were all on target for the Reserves in their opening fixture of the season at Worthing.

The trio earned a baby-faced Seagulls line-up, comprising most of last season's youth team, a 3-3 draw against south coast rivals Portsmouth.

More importantly their efforts served as a reminder to watching manager Micky Adams that they are eager to play a part in the senior side.

Thomas and Ramsay were both named in an 18 man squad at Southend last Saturday. They did not make it into the final 16 while Melton had to settle for being an unused sub.

Winger Thomas, made available for transfer at the end of last season, gave Albion a 24th minute lead with a well-struck volley from 15 yards.

Luke Nightingale levelled from close range within two minutes for Pompey before Ramsay restored Albion's advantage in impressive fashion.

The teenager, further down the forward pecking order following the arrival of Bobby Zamora, exchanged passes with Shaun Wilkinson to score emphatically into the roof of the net.

Nightingale equalised again with virtually the last kick of the opening 45 minutes and Portsmouth went in front for the first time midway through the second half.

Neil McNab, son of the former Albion player of the same name, rounded Will Packham to slot into an empty net.

Midfielder Melton, signed from Stoke in the summer, ensured the Seagulls shared the honours in an entertaining encounter with a cracking left foot shot from 20 yards with 11 minutes left.

Referee Martin Yerby booked five players, Thomas, and Ben Andrews for Albion and Nightingale, McNab and substitute Terry Parker for Portsmouth.

Albion Reserves: Packham; A Davis; Jackson; Andrews; Beech; Melton; D Davis; Aspinall; Ramsay; Wilkinson; Thomas. Subs: McPhee (for Wilkinson 61), Wojciechowski (for D Davis 68), Hemsley; Hammond and Virgo.