Albion's tight rivalry with Reading at the top of the Second Division was extended to the Reserves last night.

The teams fought out a 0-0 draw in the Avon Insurance Combination League at Worthing.

A bumpy Woodside Road pitch made constructive football difficult for two sides containing plenty of players with first team experience.

Recent signing Phil Hadland from Leighton Orient made his home debut for the Seagulls on the right flank.

David Lee operated as an orthodox striker alongside Lee Steele with Whitehawk trialist Ollie Rowland at leftback and Robbie Pethick at centre half, where he deputised so effectively for Simon Morgan in the first team at Chesterfield.

The Reading line-up was even stronger. They included the likes of Tony Rougier, Adi Viveash, Keith Jones, James Harper and Alex and Neil Smith.

Michael Branch, the Royals' new loan signing from Wolves, fired wastefully over at the end of a non-descript first half.

The speedy Hadland tested Frank Talia with a low drive from 20 yards straight after the break, then Steele was narrowly off target with a cluster of chances.

Chris Jones, Albion's Australian keeper, had little to do, but made a fine smothering save to foil Rougier when he was clean through.

Pethick kept the scoreline blank by heading Rougier's lob off the line after the front man from Trinidad had beaten Jones to the ball.

Albion Reserves: C.Jones; Wilkinson, Rowland, Virgo, Pethick, Harding, Hadland, Rogers, Lee, Steele, Wojciechowski. Subs: Sansom, Packham, Hammond, Hemsley.