By Will Jago, at Culver Road

Albion's reserves opened their home campaign at Culver Road with a comfortable 2-0 win over Gillingham in the Totesport.com Combination.

Craig Davies and Gary Hart found the net either side of half-time to see off the Gills and earn praise from assistant manager Dean White.

White told seagulls.co.uk, "It's always nice to win, with both the strikers on the score sheet.

"It's important that they are both playing well and scoring goals as they will be needed."

Davies showed his intentions early with a spark of class, controlling the ball with his chest, on the edge of the area, before unleashing a fierce volley, which Ashlee Jones managed to gather in the Gills goal.

The breakthrough arrived for the Seagulls in the 17th minute courtesy of the two forwards, when Hart whipped a dangerous low cross to the feet of Davies, who dispatched low to Jones's left from six yards.

On a quiet night for Josh Pelling, the Seagulls keeper was called into action on the half-hour and produced a great save, palming a close-range Antonio Bryan strike to safety.

On the brink of half-time Jones was once again called upon, diving low to his left to save a spontaneous strike by Kevin McLeod from all of 35 yards.

Albion doubled their lead on the hour mark when Hart finished with a clinical volley from 18 yards after the Gillingham defence had failed to clear chipped pass from Matt Thornhill.

Gillingham threatened a consolation late in the game as Liam Geering struck the angle of the Seagulls goal, but this was a dominant display from Albion's second string.

Trialist Hector Verdes-Ortega played the full 90 minutes at cente-half.

Albion: (4-4-2) Pelling; Cooper, Cook, Verdes-Ortega, Livermore; McLeod, Jamie Smith, Thornhill, James Smith; Davies, Hart (Barker 77) Subs not used: James (GK), Strong, Sheriff, Wilkins.