Brentford’s Youth Team ended up on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller against Crewe Alexandra on an afternoon that also saw two players sent off, a left back finish the game in goal and a last second penalty saved.
The Bees were beaten 3-2 in the Under-18 Professional Development League Two clash at their Jersey Road Training Ground, but that tells a fraction of the story.
Crewe went ahead early on but Fabian Rowe scored twice to put The Bees in front before 20 minutes had elapsed.
Crewe levelled before the end of an even first half but Brentford bossed it after the break.
They looked set for at least a draw before Goalkeeper Joe Taylor was sent off for handball outside of his penalty area.
With all three substitutes used, left back Tom Field went in goal for The Bees.
He was unable to prevent Crewe taking the lead with two minutes remaining but that wasn’t the end of the action.
Crewe substitute Dominic Smith was sent off for foul and abusive language and deep in to stoppage time, Courtney Senior won Brentford a penalty.
With the last kick of the afternoon James Ferry sent the penalty low to the right of Crewe goalkeeper Robbie Johnson only for the stopper to get down and superbly turn it away to secure his side the win.
On a cold afternoon Crewe started the better and went ahead seven minutes in.
A fierce shot from Toby Mullarkey was blocked by Audrius Laucys but Taylor was already diving to save and had no chance when it fell to Callum Saunders, who converted with ease.
Field had already fired across the face of goal for The Bees and Crewe defender Perry Ng had a shot blocked before the opening goal and the second of the afternoon followed swiftly after.
Ferry split the defence with a pass and Montell Moore had room to turn, he fed Rowe and the Brentford man cut inside and curled a shot home off the inside of the post from the edge of the penalty area.
Rowe had his second just six minutes later.
Following fine interplay on the left, a feature of the afternoon, Ferry fed Moore and again he found Rowe, this time he was at a tight angle six yards out and fired across Johnson and in to the far corner.
Brentford had the momentum and trialist Sergio Garcia Blanco forced Johnson in to a low save before a Rowe cross just eluded Senior.
Johnson saved again from Blanco while Gradi Milenge had to make a recovery tackle after an error let in Saunders.
Taylor saved from Saunders and kept out an aerial effort from the same man before he produced a wonderful stop to keep out an Ng header.
Crewe ended their purple patch with an equalising goal when a throw in travelled all the way across and Saunders converted.
Crewe ended the first half, which was even overall, on top but Brentford came out stronger after the break.
The Bees only really looked in danger when Crewe went longer.
Centre half Milenge limped off in the first half and Laucys was taken off after 65 minutes as part of his rehabilitation.
This left The Bees with George Pilbeam and Field in the centre of defence and when Crewe knocked it long Brentford were made to work harder to defend.
They were not, however, able to do that often as Brentford dominated.
Blanco curled a shot over and Johnson saved at the feet of Field before the goalkeeper denied Zain Westbrooke.
Moore turned a Field cross wide on the stretch and Senior fired wide as Brentford pressed.
A Blanco shot deflected over and, from a short corner, Moore dribbled inside and got off a shot that was blocked.
Laucys headed wide when well placed before blocking an effort from Joe Howell at the other end but that was a rare defensive moment for The Bees.
Westbrooke cut inside and shot over and Moore shot wide before Ferry burst down the left and fired a shot inched past the far post.
Ferry shot over and Field and Rowe had shots blocked as Brentford kept knocking at the door while Joe Kearns almost scored on a Crewe breakaway.
Brentford looked the only winners but the match-defining moment came at the other end.
Crewe broke after a Moore shot was blocked and Saunders got in behind, he attempted to lift the ball over Taylor and the goalkeeper handled outside his area after rushing out too far to try and deal with the situation.
Referee John Nazan had no choice but to send the goalkeeper off and with all substitutes used, Field donned the gloves.
He saved the resulting free kick, from James Jones, but could do nothing to prevent George Cooper converting a Saunders cross.
Mr Nazan levelled the red card count when, on the advice of his assistant, he sent off Smith for foul and abusive language and that gave Brentford a boost.
Pilbeam fired wide from a half cleared corner and seconds later Senior got free and went down under the challenge of Jones.
Mr Nazan pointed to the spot but Ferry was denied and Brentford were beaten.
Brentford Youth Team: Joe Taylor; Richard Bryan, Gradi Milenge (sub George Pilbeam 32 mins), Audrius Laucys (sub Makhosini Khanye 66 mins), Tom Field; Kojo Awotwi (sub Zain Westbrooke h/t), James Ferry, Sergio Garcia Blanco, Fabian Rowe; Courtney Senior, Montell Moore
Subs (not used): Bradley Clayton, Seika Jatta
Bookings: Moore (35 mins)
Sent Off: Taylor (85 mins)
Crewe Alexandra Youth Team: Robbie Johnson; Michael Pino, Louis Johnson, Perry Ng, Joe Kearns; Joe Howell, Toby Mullarkey (sub Dominic Smith 57 mins), James Jones, Chris Speed (sub George Cooper); Callum Saunders, Andrew Brown (sub Ryan Allcock 57 mins)
Sub (not used): Liam Matthews
Bookings: Ng (76 mins), Jones (90 mins)
Sent Off: Smith (90 mins)
By Chris Wickham