Watford Under-18s suffered a 6-3 defeat at home to a Matt Stevens-inspired Barnet on Saturday, despite the visitors finishing with only nine men.

After Matt Hall had headed a corner narrowly wide early on, the Bees took the lead after 24 minutes when Stevens broke forward and out-muscled Hall to find the bottom corner and score his first in what was to become a memorable game for the player.

Stevens doubled his and his team’s tally ten minutes later when he headed home from close range after a cross from the left had been deflected into his path.

Hornets striker Michael Folivi almost reduced the deficit when he struck a post, but the hosts were to find themselves 3-0 down when Nana Emmanuel got clear down the left and cut inside to beat goalkeeper Shaun Rowley.

The Bees’ first red card came shortly before the interval when Mahlondo Martin raced clear, only to be taken down by the covering left-back.

Watford came out for the second half with greater intensity and after Dion Pereira headed narrowly wide, Folivi did find the net after Pereira’s ball over the defence dropped for the forward.

But any hopes of a comeback were to be shortlived as Stevens completed his hat-trick following a mix up in the Hornets’ defence to make it 4-1.

However, there was still plenty of drama to come, starting with the Bees’ second dismissal of the match with 15 minutes remaining when keeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle was sent off after tripping Folivi in the penalty area. Having used all his substitutes, Bees coach Henry Newman had no option but to put an outfield player in goal and his first job was to pick the ball out of the net after Folivi slotted home the spot kick.

Unsurprisingly, the Hornets went for broke and after skipper Alfie Young had gone close, Harry Kyprianou fired home a cross from close range to make it 4-3.

But in seeking a dramatic equaliser, the hosts switched off at the back and Stevens waltzed into the box to net his fourth following a passage of three passes immediately from the restart.

And there was still time for Stevens to net his fifth of the contest, lobbing the ball over Rowley after intercepting a pass from the keeper.

Watford Under-18s: Rowley; Young, Cathline, Hall, Kyprianou; Choi (Pereira 44), Stewart, Makaka, Martin; Folivi, Thomas.