Crawley took the extra point on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Albion under-21s at Broadfield Stadium.

Eddie Beach saved from Malick Yalcouye to secure a 4-3 success in the shoot-out in the opening round of Bristol Street Motors Trophy group stage fixtures.

Cam Peupion’s early strike for the Seagulls was cancelled out by Charlie Barker, son of former Seagulls striker Richie.

Antony Papadopoulos produced a superb finish to put Crawley ahead after the break, only for Josh Duffus to level on 84 minutes.

Crawley's starting line-up showed eight changes to the XI which kicked off their most recent League One game, the 1-0 win at Cambridge.

All five of the subs who went on in that game started this evening.

Jack Roles had the first shot on target, drilling a low effort straight at Killian Cahill after nice build-up involving Ade Adeyemo.

But, just as Reds seemed to be coming into the game, they went behind on ten minutes.

(Image: Simon Dack)

Right-back Toby Mullarkey failed to deal with a long ball and Peupion was in to deftly avoid goalkeeper Eddie Beach and carefully guide a shot home.

Undeterred, the hosts kept playing their football and drew level three minutes later.

Barker connected cleanly with a shot which flew in off the inside of the far post.

Reds played some nice stuff from then with Panutche Camara prominent.

But Albion went closest when Duffus hit the outside of the near post just before the half-hour with a well-struck low drive after they had again won the ball high up the pitch.

Odel Offiah saw his effort kicked away by the keeper just before the break when he got well forward in support of Amario Cozier-Duberry.

Beach, on loan from Chelsea, made a decent save low down from Peupion early in the second half.

Imari Samuels then made a good block when Rafiq Kaleel was worked into space by Reds.

Yalcouye was busy in a deep-lying midfield role, generally looking good on the ball.

(Image: Simon Dack)

But his stray pass gave Papadopoulos the chance to fire home a superb finish from around 25 yards, giving Reds the lead on 55 minutes.

The hosts got on top for a while and Albion centre-back Jacob Vickers was booked for pulling back an opponent before Barker curled not far over the top corner from the edge of the box.

Cozier-Duberry had looked tricky at times but was generally kept quiet by the hosts and was taken off going into the final 20 minutes.

One of the home subs, Armando Quitirna, almost wrapped up the win for his side when he went outside Imari Samuels and drilled a shot inches past the far post.

Instead, Albion drew level almost immediately when Duffus, found by Peupion following good work by Yalcouye, controlled and finished at the far post.

Jensen Weir drilled against the post deep in added time as Albion finished the game strongly, with Beach possibly getting a touch.

That secured a point for each team with a second on offer for the winner of the subsequent penalty shoot-out.

Weir hit the bar with the first spot kick and Cam Bragg, Roles, Quitirna and Josh Flint all converted for Reds.

Harry Howell, Samuels and Peupion were successful for Albion before Beach parried from Yalcouye.

Crawley: Beach; Mullarkey (Anderson 46), Barker (Kelly 86), Mukena, Flint; Bragg; Khaleel, Camara (Quitirna 60), Adeyemo (Darcy 74), Papadopoloulos; Roles. Unused sub: Sheik.

Albion under-21: Cahill; Offiah, Simmonds (Ifill 71), J.Vickers, Samuels; Yalcouye, Weir; Cozier-Duberry (Tasker 71), C.Vickers (Howell 66), Peupion; Duffus (Moulton 89). Unused subs: Fisher, Mills, Albarus.

Ref: Farai Hallam.

Attendance: 1,545 (221 away).