Watford Under-21s played the last 20 minutes and a hefty further nine of stoppage time with just nine men as they were beaten 2-0 at Kings Langley FC by Cardiff City in the Premier League Cup.

Goalkeeping coach Gary Phillips also saw red as the match officials, who had been pedantic and inconsistent throughout, turned what had been a pretty low-key game into something of a farce.

Leo Ramirez-Espain was shown a straight red card in the 70th minute for what referee Mr Walchester deemed to be a deliberate stamp.

Cardiff had opted to play on despite Albert Eames being prone on the floor with an injury that eventually forced him off, and as Ramirez-Espain made a challenge in midfield a Cardiff player fell and the Watford midfielder appeared to be attempting to hurdle him before treading on him.

Mr Walchester was in no doubt it was a stamp though and flourished the red card.

While Eames was being treated on the floor, Watford replaced Zavier Massiah-Edwards with Mathis Eboue, their final substitute of the night.

When it became apparent Eames was going to have to come off, there seemed to be some discussion between the Hornets dug-out, the linesman and the fourth official.

The referee was called over and showed Phillips a red card, presumably for something he said.

It was a mad few minutes that instantly ended the game as a contest, with the nine men in yellow merely trying to avoid conceding any more goals in the closing stages while attempting the odd counter-attack.

It hadn’t been a great game anyway, with Watford having more of the ball and spending longer in the opposition half, but their goal attempts either missed the target or failed to extend Cardiff keeper Jake Dennis.

Aidan Coyne was energetic and busy for the Hornets but his influence on the game was curtailed somewhat when he was booked late in the first half.

At the back, James Clarridge celebrated signing a new contract with another classy and assured performance.

However, unlike the Hornets, Cardiff took the two good chances that came their way with a level of lethality which was sorely lacking from the hosts.

The two-goal cushion at the break was top-heavy but reward for a pair of very tidy finishes, and after the interval Watford continued to be profligate in front of goal before they were left with nine men and no realistic hope of retrieving anything.

Here’s how the game unfolded:

2 - Watkiss shoots over from the edge of the box

9 - Coyne sends a swerving shot wide from 25 yards

19 - Watkiss drives a shot over the bar after Keyes lay-off

21 - Excellent ball in behind by Coyne, Keyes controlled it well but shot at keeper

35 – Watford 0 Cardiff 1 (Mafico)

Cardiff score with their first goal attempt as Giles’ corner is punched away by Ortelli, but Mafico drives it back through a crowd of players and into the net.

37 - Coyne crosses, keeper Dennis only gets half a punch but Ramirez-Espain’s snap-shot goes wide.

43 - Watkiss wins a tackle midway inside the Cardiff half, the ball runs to Keyes who sends a 20-yard effort over the target

45+2 – Watford 0 Cardiff 2 (Jefferies)

As the home defence looks for offside, Jefferies breaks clear into the box and then beats Ortelli with a confident low shot into the corner.

Half-time – Watford 0 Cardiff 2

51 - Sikiru bursts into box and gets his shot away but Dennis parries near the base of the post before the ball is hacked clear

56 - Quick feet from George inside the box, he turns and sets up Reindorf for a shot that Ortelli palms to safety.

59 - Great chance to reduce the arrears. Substitute Torres’ first action is to cut off a short goal kick, the ball runs to Coyne but he turns 14 yards out and sends a shot over the top

63 - Cross drops kindly for Coyne but his well-controlled hooked volley is straight at Dennis

70 – Ramirez-Espain is shown a straight red for what the referee deemed a stamp

72 – Goalkeeping coach Gary Phillips is shown a red card for something he said to the officials

73 - Eames limps off, leaving Watford down to nine men

Full-time - Watford 0 Cardiff City 2

Watford: Ortelli; Abbott, Watkiss (Buers 64), Ramirez-Espain, Clarridge, Kamga, Eames, Coyne (Garcia-Romero 64), Massiah-Edwards (Eboue 71), Keyes (Trialist 58), Sikiru (Torres 58).