Jon De Souza's Youth Team extended their unbeaten run to ten matches after an eventful 2-2 draw at home to Sheffield United at Jersey Road.

The Bees looked in total control at half-time thanks to goals from Makhosini Khanye and Reece Cole but Tyrick Mitchell saw red six minutes into the second-half.

Within sixty seconds of the red card Spencer Maw halved the deficit and the two sides were level with 25 minutes to go when Dan Cockerline finished calmly.

The Blades were then reduced to ten men when Ioan Evans was sent off for a second booking with ten minutes to play but they held on to go home with a share of the points.

With the Development Squad in action at Griffin Park later on in the afternoon it was a young Brentford XI that took to the field.

Under-15 Mitchell was making his debut at left-back while Under-16s Julius Fenn-Evans and Giovanni McGregor also started.

Sheffield United came to Jersey Road bottom of the North section of the Under-18 Professional Development Two and they were forced to do a lot of defending in the early stages.

The visitors set up in a traditional 4-4-2 with the size and strength of Cockerline their main outlet.

Mitchell was proving a threat from left-back and he tested the visiting keeper Aaron Ramsdale from the edge of the box.

The left-back was involved again on the quarter hour as The Bees took the lead, exchanging passes with Jeremiah Kamanzi before squaring for Khanye to sweep home from close range.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 as Cole's shot from 25 yards kicked up off the turf and found the corner past the dive of Ramsdale.

Having won their last five Brentford went looking to put the visitors to the sword.

Fenn-Evans shot over from 25 yards, Kamanzi tested the handling of Ramsdale and Chris Mepham's fine run from deep culminated with the visiting goalkeeper getting a vital touch to turn Fenn-Evans shot round the post.

Audrius Laucys sent a flick header wide of the far post and Cole shot straight at Ramsdale before United started to gain a foothold in the game as half-time approached.

Cockerline shot over from long-range and with the final chance of the half the big striker fired across the face of goal a tight angle.

The second-half looked, from the opening exchanges, like it was going to follow the same path as the first but all that changed in the 50th minute.

Mitchell had already been booked for delaying a free-kick and when he tangled with David Brooks the referee had no hesitation in showing the youngster a second yellow card.

The Blades took instant advantage of their extra man as Seika Jatta gave the ball away to Maw and he burst through and slid home within 60 seconds of Mitchell's dismissal.

The game was becoming increasingly fractious as Cole and Evans both went into the book before the visitors levelled midway through the half.

The goal was similar to United's first but this time it was Cockerline who broke in behind before slotting home off the inside of the post from 12 yards.

Cockerline was proving to be a real handful but he rather rushed his effort from the edge of the box, pulling it well wide.

His next attempt, however, was far closer as Robert Mensah was in the right place to head off the line after Tzanev appeared to be impeded.

Tzanev may not have covered himself in glory with that effort but he was far more impressive as Cockerline's chip looked destined for the top corner until a vital fingertip from Tzanev turned it onto the bar.

With their man advantage United had bossed the second-half but Brentford did start to get back into the match as the half progressed.

Substitute Courtney Austin was left as the lone striker and asked to battle and hold up the ball to allow Brentford up the pitch.

He did well to find Kamanzi who could have returned the ball to the striker but instead shot straight at Ramsdale.

Austin's presence forced an error from the visiting keeper as he dropped a looping cross but, fortunately for United, Evans was able to block as Kamanzi shot from the edge of the box.

Evans may have defended well on that occasion but he was soon joining Mitchell in taking an early shower as he picked up a second yellow for blocking Laucys as he burst forward.

Seeing the opposition reduced to ten men as well breathed new confidence in the Brentford team and Ramsdale denied Cole from the resulting free-kick before The Bees piled forward in the closing minutes.

Jon De Souza's side dominated possession and territory in the final ten minutes but failed to fashion a clear cut chance aside from a Khanye volley that dribbled wide of the near post.

As it was the two sides had to settle for a point which means The Bees have to wait at least another two weeks to try and wrap up the Under-18 Professional Development League Two South title.

Brentford YT: Nik Tzanev; Audrius Laucys, Chris Mepham, Seth Owens, Tom Field; Reece Cole, Giovanni MacGregor (sub Robert Mensah 59 mins); Makhosini Khanye, Jeremiah Kamanzi; Julius Fenn-Evans (sub Romayn Pennant 71 mins), Seika Jatta (sub Courtney Austin 52 mins)

Subs not used: Tom Roberts, Tony Guppy

Sheffield United YT: Aaron Ramsdale; Alex Brown, Ioan Evans, Emmanuel Adebowale, Graham Kelly; David Brooks, Fahad Ishmail, Shea Gordon (sub Danny Ramsey 78 mins), Spencer Maw; Dan Cockerline, Jorome Slew

Subs not used: Josh Perryman, Tom Charlesworth, Keegan Burton, Callum Semple