Withdean 2000 don't bother counting their attendances these days because they are so small it would be depressing.

The club could be forgiven for wallowing in self-pity with no permanent home, uncertainty over which league they will be in next season, no shirt sponsor or reserve team.

They were evicted from Withdean because Albion take priority and now play matches at Horsham's Queen Street ground.

Their first taste of Combined Counties League football has proved no easier than the County League.

But Withdean 2000 are not feeling sorry for themselves.

Chief Alan Pook insists the club is still optimistic about the future.

Pook, the former Burgess Hill manager, is the hands-on chief executive who oversees the youth set-up.

He said: "Withdean are on the march. We are all excited at the club. Not many managers can look forward to the future we are looking forward to.

"We have 12 youth teams and, although there are only proper leagues for four of them, we are top or second in all of them.

"These youngsters are going to be the conveyor belt for us in the Brighton area which is our home.

"We have a link up with the Dorothy Stringer School in the city. If you watch the youngsters at their home matches, there can be a couple of hundred people there spectating."

Pook said manager Mark Stevens and himself were happy to place their faith in youth.

He feels local clubs, apart from Burgess Hill, Lewes and Withdean 2000, are unwilling to risk playing many young players in their first team.

He said: "Managers in the County League are under so much pressure to maintain their County League status that they are hesistant to bring them in."

With a talented crop of young players in his side against Walton and more waiting in the wings, the biggest problem facing Withdean 2000 is where to play them.

Withdean 2000 would like to be based in the Brighton and Hove area to help improve attendances.

But because the Sussex FA have banned County League clubs sharing grounds, there are few realistic alternatives closer to home.

Furthermore, the year-long tenancy at Queen Street which is likely to be extended next year despite a rent increase, is not good enough to satisfy Ryman League who insist on a more permanent arrangement for acceptance into their pyramid.

Withdean 2000 have ambitions to join the Ryman and Pook said: "The groundshare is working well. We are very happy with Horsham, it is good for them and good for us.

"They are having a good season, and so are Withdean, we are still aiming for a top-three finish. That is the incentive for the boys and we'll take it from there.

"At present we couldn't win promotion to the Ryman League because we have no long-term groundshare."

The draw with Walton Casuals was Withdean 2000's ninth deadlock of the campaign and Pook admitted that sometimes playing too many youngsters can have drawbacks, but he remained defiant.

He said: "There were seven under-21 players on the pitch against Walton and we did suffer from a bit of inconsistency. We let in a scrappy goal, but that is all about bringing young players through and having them go out and play without any real pressure."

A sparse crowd certainly didn't put the players under pressure as Withdean 2000 went a goal down in the 20th minute.

Grant Keywood skipped down the left, Ian Gilmour and Danny Bird failed to clear the ball and Neil Campbell scored with a toe poke past Dean Plant.

Withdean's prolific striking duo of top scorer Roy Pook and former Lewes marksman Dominic Shepherd went close to equalising on several occasions.

But it was left to substitute Carl Southwell to fire in a deserved leveller three minutes from time after a determined run down the right by Pook.

The point leaves Withdean unbeaten in six matches and in reasonable shape ahead of Wednesday's home clash with lowly Chessington United.

Skipper Leo Day said: "We have a couple of big games coming up and need to turn those draws into wins. This league is a learning curve for us. It is a closer standard to the Ryman League, which is where we want to be, rather than the County League but we have to get out of it."

Whether Withdean 2000 achieve that, may be out of the players' hands.