MARK ORMEROD turned from villain to hero for Albion Reserves last night.

The young keeper was responsible for the kind of crazy first-half equaliser which is driving boss Brian Horton to distraction.

But Ormerod made amends with a crucial penalty save as the Reserves kicked-off their home campaign in the Avon Insurance Combination with a 4-1 walloping of Wycombe Wanderers at Worthing.

Ormerod's 40th-inute double blunder wiped out an early lead provided by a Stuart Storer penalty.

He almost miscued an attempted clearance from Peter Smith's backpass into his own net. That gifted Wycombe a corner from which Miguel Silva headed goalwards and Dannie Bulman beat Ormerod to the ball to nod in.

Simon Wormull restored Albion's advantage on 66 minutes with a header from the impressive John Westcott's centre.

Eleven minutes later Ormerod plunged to his left to push away Michael Simpson's penalty, awarded for a trip by Smith on substitute Lee Johnson.

That proved to be the turning point as an own goal by Jeff Lamb doubled Albion's lead within a minute and second half substitute Terry Streeter cracked home the fourth in the closing stages.

Captain Gary Hobson, making his comeback from a back injury, came through unscathed, while director of youth Martin Hinshelwood's son Danny made an encouraging debut on a month's trial at rightback.

Albion Reserves: Ormerod; Hinshelwood, Francis, Ansah, Smith, Hobson, Westcott, Wormull, Montgomery, Storer, Ryan. Subs: Streeter for Montgomery (injured 45), McArthur for Francis (withdrawn 68), Ottley for Ryan (withdrawn 81).

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