Our under-21s came from behind to draw 1-1 with Worthing on Friday night in their opening pre-season friendly.
The Rebels took a second minute lead at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre after Lewis White rounded James Beadle and rolled the ball into the back of the net.
Antef Tsoungui had his head in his hands just a minute later when he should have equalised. Jack Hinshelwood nodded the ball down into his fellow defender’s path to strike on the half-volley, but Tsoungui fired over from eight yards.
The hosts looked to grab an equaliser late in the first half as Matt Everitt and Todd Miller saw efforts blocked behind for corners, but Worthing were good value for their lead going in at the break.
Zak Emmerson went close twice in quick succession, seeing both efforts fly narrowly over the crossbar just after the hour mark.
The forward wasn’t to be denied though, as he scrambled home a leveller in the 69th minute after Worthing failed to clear a corner.
If either team was going to snatch the win, it was Albion. Emmerson nodded straight into the keeper’s arms with ten minutes to play, before Ben Wilson’s drive from 20-yards was smartly palmed away.
Leigh Kavanagh nearly sealed the victory with a well struck effort from distance, but again the Worthing keeper did well to dive to his right and force it away.
Andrew Crofts’s team head to Spain next week for a pre-season training camp, where they will face Hull City under-21s in a behind close doors friendly.
First half team: Beadle, Packham, Tsoungui, Hinshelwood, Miller, Everitt, Hinchy, Shann, Baker-Boaitey, Moran, Tolaj.
Second half time: Cahill, Nilsson, Kavanagh, Turns, Furlong, Chouchane, Spong, Ifill, Wilson, Clark, Emmerson.