A STRING of fine saves from keeper Mark Ormerod helped Brighton reserves gain a highly creditable goal-less draw against star-studded Arsenal yesterday afternoon.

The double winners started with ten players who had first team experience, the other was Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu, making his Arsenal debut after a £4.5million transfer from Inter Milan.

As expected, the Seagulls were under the cosh early on but they seemed to have struck the first blow on 31 minutes when Jamie Moralee slotted home a cross from former Seagull and trialist Ian Chapman, but it was ruled out for offside.

After that, only Ormerod stopped Arsenal forging ahead.

Within five minutes, he smothered a Remi Garde shot, got his fingertips to Kanu's drive, parried Stephen Hughes' blockbuster and brilliantly tipped over a point-blank header from French striker Kaba Diawara.

After the break, the muddy pitch at Boreham Wood FC took control.

Duncan McArthur went closest for the Seagulls with a fierce volley and, at the other end, Tony Browne's well-timed tackle prevented Kanu dribbling his way to a debut goal.

Striker Lawrence Davies, on trial from Bradford City, sparkled briefly but was well marshalled by Argentinian international Nelson Vivas and the experienced Steve Bould.

Brighton: Ormerod, Smith, Chapman, Ottley, Browne, Hobson, Ansah, Ryan (sub. 87 Davis), Davies, Moralee, McArthur. Subs. (not used) Ramsay, Burke.

Arsenal: Lukic, Vivas, Crowe, Garde (sub 45 Black) Grimandi, (sub 83 Gray), Bould, Vernazza, Caballerot (sub 63 Day), Kanu, Diawara, Hughes.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.