Nine years ago next month Aidy Boothroyd's Watford held a penalty shoot-out after their 2-1 Championship victory over Ipswich Town at Vicarage Road.

On Wednesday evening Boothroyd's England Under-20 side repeated the trick, beating their Mexican counterparts 4-2 on spot kicks following a 1-1 friendly draw at The Hive.

Barnet's ground was hosting an international match for the first time - another mark of quite how far the Conference leaders have come off the field since leaving their traditional Underhill home almost two years ago. Brazil, Germany and Chile have all used the club's facilities previously when preparing to face England.

Former Watford, Colchester United, Coventry City and Northampton Town manager Boothroyd is reinventing himself after tumbling down the Football League and helping reinvent England's identity at youth level in the process.

On this evidence there is still much work to be done.

The visitors took the lead shortly after the restart, Jose Ramirez on-hand to net. But England levelled with 13 minutes remaining, Arsenal's Chuba Akpom winning and converting a penalty which saw the Mexican goalkeeper Raul Gudino dismissed.

England struggled to get a foothold in the game in the first half and were on more than one occasion fortunate when exposed at the back in an unfamiliar 3-5-2 system.

The attacking nature of winger-turned-wing-back Moses Odubajo was evident as he was caught out of position on a handful of occasions in the first half alone.

And whilst there was an admirable will to keep the ball on the floor, the Young Lions did in one instance play themselves into trouble in the 18-yard box by sticking rigidly, almost defiantly, to their principles.

Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Christian Walton was called into action as early as the 11th minute to deny Daniel Calderon one-on-one as Mexico began brightly.

Wolves' defender Kortney Hause was caught napping but as Luis Marquez stole in at the back post he snatched at the chance on the run and could only slam wide of the far post.

Ben Osborn, who was arguably England's most productive midfielder, lashed wide on his left foot from distance but the young Lions were struggling to make inroads into the Mexican third.

There was still time for one good England chance; Akpom nodding just over from a corner.

And just before the break, Diego Agama rattled the England crossbar with a flicked header from a corner.

Within a minute of the restart the visitors were in front. Ramirez was found in enough room in the penalty area to shoot low beyond Walton and open the scoring.

The two sides were struggling to create chances but with 13 minutes remaining that all changed.

First, left wing-back Jack Barmby burst through the Mexican defence but having drawn goalkeeper Gudino off his line, could only slot wide of the far post on his left foot.

And a minute later Akpom again pierced the visitors' defence and attempted to round Gudino before being felled, earning the Mexican stopper a straight red card.

The Arsenal prospect dusted himself down to fire past substitute keeper Antonio Ignacio Torres Carrillo.

The Young Lions could have taken the lead soon after as the backup keeper failed to punch clear a corner but Dominic Iorfa could not turn home from close range.

England continued to push for a winner and nearly got one when Odubajo made progress down the right-hand side before crossing to the near post for Akpom, who could only shoot against the woodwork.

With Mexico down to ten men it was Boothroyd’s side that looked most like finding a winner but they were unable to make their superiority count.

Penalties were therefore required to separate the two sides, much to the surprise of those in the ground.

The first Mexican effort thundered against the bar and the second flew into the car park behind the north stand. England, however, scored via John Swift and Akpom before Matt Grimes and Callum Robinson sealed the win from 12 yards.

England: Walton; Iorfa, Cargill, Hause; Odubajo, Osborn (Grimes 69), Hanson (Reed 74), Baker (c) (Swift 69), Barmby; Akpom, Robinson.

Subs not used: Pickford (GK), Ball, Toffolo, Stephens, Turnbull, Thomas, Swift, Mowatt.