Albion Reserves threw away a 2-0 lead as they crashed 4-2 at Northampton Town in their latest Pontin's Holidays League clash yesterday afternoon.

First-half goals from John Piercy and Adam El-Abd had seemingly put the Seagulls' second string in command at a blustery Sixfields.

But a neat finish from former Cambridge United striker Tom Youngs just before the break got the Cobblers back into the game and, with a strong wind at their backs in the second half, the home side took control.

Albion maintained their lead until the 58th minute but then three goals in a six-minute spell from Derek Asamoah, Youngs again and Steve Morison wrapped up the points for the Cobblers.

It had been a different story before the break as Albion dominated possession with Paul Reid, who got through a neat and tidy 90 minutes, and Dean Hammond dominant in midfield and Jake Robinson a livewire in attack.

After several near misses with long-range shots the Seagulls took the lead on the half-hour with a fortuitous goal.

Northampton goalkeeper Craig Holloway touched Reid's drive over the bar, but then Piercy's vicious inswinging corner from the left embarrassed him, the ball flying over the home shot-stopper and into the top corner.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 as Piercy again crossed from the left and, after home defender Luke Chambers had failed to clear the danger, El-Abd, in a rare foray forward from defence, smashed home from close range.

Albion let the hosts back into the game on 41 minutes, the defence ball-watching as Asamoah slipped in Youngs and he slotted a low shot past an exposed Michel Kuipers.

Kuipers pulled off a couple of cracking stops from Asamoah and Davis Galbraith late on before Seagulls midfielder David Lee wasted a great chance to grab a consolation, somehow sidefooting wide of an empty net after great work down the left by Chris McPhee.

Albion Reserves: Kuipers, Piper, Mayo, El-Abd, Breach, Reid, Lee, Hammond, McPhee, Robinson (Beck 63), Piercy. Unused subs: Elphick, May, Budd.