Albion Reserves disposed of manager Dean White's old team in the second round of the Sussex Senior Cup but it was hardly convincing.

Teenage trialist Roger Pandong volleyed in the only goal in the 15th minute from close range after a good run and cross down the right from John Piercy.

However, the Dr Martens Leage premier division side more than matched their opponents after the break and Chris Honey spurned two good chances late on to take the match into extra-time.

White admitted he was relieved to have beaten the team he managed two years ago before quitting the Pilot Field to join Albion.

He said: "We haven't played for six weeks and we were a bit rusty at times. The pitch was horrendous and it wasn't conducive to passing.

"We had chances to finish them off early on and we were nearly made to pay late on.

"It was good to beat Hastings because most of the lads there are players I brought to the club."

White fielded a strong side, featuring several experienced first team players, for his side's first competitive game in front of Albion's new boss Steve Coppell.

In fact, Pandong was the only player present not to have appeared for the first team.

The hosts were quickly into their stride with Danny Marney and Charlie Oatway shooting wide.

Albion took the lead when the lively Piercy, who almost joined Hastings before being offered a contract with the Seagulls, beat Nick Hegley down the right and teased a cross which lured Dave King out of position and left Pandong with a simple tap in.

Chris Honey, who is yet to score this season, retaliated for United a minute later with rasping right foot drive that Will Packham did well to hold diving to his right.

And the Hastings No. 11 went even closer to equalising with an ambitious left foot bicycle kick that had Packham scampering across his line to cover.

White brought on Paul Brooker at half time before introducing Geoff Pitcher and Chris McPhee midway through the half.

However, the visitors really should have taken the match into extra-time.

First a cross deflected off Daniel Webb and dribbled fractionally wide with Packham beaten.

Then Packham made an impressive diving save at the foot of the post to keep out a header from former Albion player Danny Simmonds.

Honey spurned two good opportunities for Hastings in the dying minutes when first he headed Tony Burt's free-kick wide after beating the offside trap and then he grazed the bar with a right foot shot from a tight angle after taking the ball round Packham.

Albion: Packham, Rogers, Jones (Pitcher 64), Virgo, Butters, Oatway (Brooker 45), Piercy, Hammond, Webb (McPhee 64), Marney, Pandong.

Hastings: King, Yates, Hegley, Osborne, Burt, Flanagan (Myall 52), Playford (Webb 73), Body (Cornwall 80), Zahana-Oni, Simmonds, Honey.

Attendance: 171 Referee: Martin Postles (Coneyhurst).