After seeing a two-goal lead go begging, Watford’s Under-18s scored a last-gasp leveller to secure a dramatic 3-3 draw against QPR.

The Hornets made a flying start to the clash at their London Colney training ground as a rapid double from Ryan Cassidy put them 2-0 up after 20 minutes.

However, three second half goals from Rangers meant Watford needed a late Jack Burchell effort to earn a draw.

It took Watford just two minutes to take the lead when Cassidy stepped up to calmly convert a penalty as he placed down the middle from 12 yards.

The forward doubled his money with a well-worked team goal when a long ball forward was flicked into the path of Dominic Hutchinson.

He drove forward down the right and played a pass into Cassidy who fired home with a smart finish.

Watford carried their form into the second period and would have extended their lead but for a fine double save from Harvey White in the QPR goal.

The importance of White’s intervention increased further still when QPR scored twice in the space of four minutes to turn the game on its head.

Rangers captain Joseph Gubbins got the ball rolling as he fired home a penalty before Jahiem Rose equalised after a sweeping team move.

By now QPR were well in control and they made the most of their dominance to go ahead 15 minutes from time when turning in after Dante Baptiste’s smart save.

It looked as though Watford were heading for a defeat which looked so unlikely at half-time, but they managed to mount one last telling attack deep into stoppage-time.

A clever ball over the top of the QPR defence sent Burchell through on goal and he rounded the keeper and found the corner of the net to make it 3-3 at the last.

Watford: Baptiste (GK), Matthews, Rashan, Burchell, Langstone, Tricker (Trialist, 59’), Hutchinson, Maclean, Cassidy (Sanders, 65’), Miller (Bennetts, 45’), Sankoh.

Subs not used: Horsewood, Khaira.