St Albans City are still searching for a first win of the National League South season but they have claimed a first point - at home to Worthing.

Saints had gone in front at Clarence Park after five minutes through Jack James only for the Mackerel Men, beaten in the play-off final last year, to take the lead midway through the second period.

However, Worthing's advantage only lasted four minutes before Ken Charles made it 2-2.

City manager David Noble said: "It was a good performance against a difficult team. I liked the fact we kept going.

"Worthing are a team that will be there or thereabouts, no doubt about it. They have a style and a structure and they are good at it.

"We had to be good to get anything out of this, and we were. The mindset was superb.

"It was two teams who like to score goals, want to play football and want to win games.

"It was an excellent game of football. Maybe slighted faded towards them in the first half but I would say we were the team that were looking to win the game at the end."

The opening game of the year was a 1-0 loss also at home to Maidstone United and Noble insists that the season is going to one tough game after another.

"I knew it would be a difficult start to the season," he admitted. "Maidstone are one of the favourites and Worthing are another one who will be there.

"But every game at this level of football is difficult. It is hard to get three points, everybody is doing their homework and coming with game-plans.

"It is about overcoming that."

City finished the game with both Charles and Shaun Jeffers up front, and that shows the strength in depth they have according to the manager.

Noble said: "We've got good options and when Ken's legs go, we've got [Sam Meakes] who will come on and run himself into the ground.

"We can mix it up, that is something we are aware of, and as legs and performances die a little bit, you can change it a little bit.

And there was also a second debut for Tafari Moore, back at Clarence Park after a season away with Oxford City in the National League.

Noble was pleased to see him back.

He said: "I'm very excited. I'm sure the fans will remember how good Tafari was in his first spell and I thought he was excellent when he came on."