Albion Reserves conceded two goals in the last ten minutes as they suffered a rare defeat yesterday.

Dean White's men went down 3-2 at Bristol City in an Avon Insurance Combination game of which they had appeared to be in control.

Midfielder John Piercy was hero and villain, first giving the Seagulls a 2-1 lead with a tremendous 25-yard shot but then needlessly giving away a free kick just outside his own penalty area, which led to the home side's equaliser.

It needed an early saving tackle from Albion defender Nicky Bridle on striker Leroy Lita to save a dangerous situation before a glancing header from the Seagulls' Chris McPhee was just off target. Then a Chris Greatwich header was saved at full stretch by City keeper Mike Stowell.

Albion took 23rd-minute lead when Shaun Wilkinson's low cross from the right found the unmarked Greatwich at the far post, and he gave goalkeeper Stowell no chance from ten yards.

The home side hit back four minutes later when a cross from Darren Hawkins found the unmarked Simon Clist at the far post and he slid the ball past the diving Will Packham.

Skipper Guy Butters went close to restoring the lead after 39 minutes, but his powerful header from a David Lee corner was just off target.

The home side came out fired up for the second half and, after two minutes, with goalkeeper Packham off his line, it needed a flying acrobatic headed clearance from Adam El-Abd to prevent Hawkins giving the home side the lead.

Then Hawkins and Craig Loxton both had shots blocked by defenders before goalkeeper Packham saved well at the feet of Lita as he ran clear of the defence.

Piercy was unlucky to see a tremendous first-time volley go straight at Stowell from a David Lee pull-back in the 57th minute before the midfielder restored the lead after 63 minutes.

Piercy started the move deep inside his own half and after a strong jinking run linked with McPhee who played the ball back to him, and the midfielder gave Stowell no chance with a thundering drive into the top corner of the net.

Lee then failed to hit the target after being put clear and with ten minutes left Piercy conceded a free kick just outside his own penalty area which earned him a booking, and from Clist's free kick Hawkins headed the home side level.

Five minutes later, a powerful run into the penalty area by Hawkins was ended by a mis-timed tackle from a defender to give Lita the chance to give the home side victory from the penalty spot.

Albion went close to scoring a last-minute equaliser when Butters and Lee linked to put McPhee clear, but the striker's low drive was brilliantly saved by Stowell.

Albion Res: Packham, Bridle, Harding, Butters, Elabd, Hammond, Wilkinson, Piercy, McPhee, Lee, Greatwich. Subs not used: Breach, Fillery, Windsor.