Vale of White Horse Under 15s had two players sent off as they crashed out of the English Schools' FA Trophy 1-0 after extra time in a stormy clash at Hackney & Tower Hamlets.
Adam Rudd and Luke Bennett both saw red in extra time as the fifth-round tie, played in the intimidating atmosphere of Tower Hamlet's Mile End Stadium, boiled over.
A fiercely competitive game turned sour with two minutes left of normal time when Rudd was scythed down in full flight, and a Hackney player was sent off after pushing his fingers into the Vale lad's face.
The only goal came five minutes into extra time. Gareth Tucker appeared to have Junior Omozusi's shot covered, but the ball evaded his clutches and trickled into the net.
Worse followed as Rudd was dismissed for two yellow cards, the first for a foul and the second for dissent. In the final seconds, Hackney took a short corner and then placed four players around the ball to prevent anyone getting to it.
The referee allowed play to continue and, in frustration, Bennett slid in, taking out a Hackney player from behind.
The Vale player was then kicked in the head and got up, only to be sent off by the referee with blood pouring from his face.
The Hackney lad went unpunished, and seconds later he was celebrating victory with his teammates as Vale reflected on the end of their proud 29-game un- beaten run.
Both sides were outstanding in defence with few chances created from open play, although both sides looked dangerous from set pieces.
A free-kick from Vale's Alex Pearce grazed a post, and Bennett's header from another free-kick went narrowly wide, and Vale had the ball in the net from a corner, only for it to be disallowed for a foul on the keeper.
At the other end, Tucker saved well from a free kick, and a deflection from another one went narrowly over the bar.
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