Crewe Alexandra struck twice late on to deny Barnsley U23s victory at Gresty Road in the Professional Development League on Wednesday afternoon.
Paul Harsley’s side trailed at the break thanks to Lewis Reilly’s header, before goals from Trialist and Trialist put the Reds in front.
But Billy Sass-Davies headed home with four minutes to go before Reilly, Alex’ top scorer, converted a 93rd minute penalty to give the hosts all three points.
In a cagey opening period, it was Barnsley who created the first opportunity as Amir Berkovits worked a yard of space on the edge of the box before seeing his low shot blocked.
The young Israeli winger then had another chance six minutes later, but he fired wide after bursting into the area from the left flank.
After a sustained period of Reds pressure, Crewe started to create openings of their own and came close to taking the lead through Rio Adebisi, but his shot was cleared off the line.
Moments later, Oliver Finney latched onto a fine ball over the top and struck a venomous volley that Jake Greatorex palmed away low to his right.
But the hosts wouldn’t be kept at bay much longer as Tom Lowery picked up the ball on the right flank and crossed for Reilly to head home his 13th goal of the campaign ten minutes before the interval.
Alex almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time but Lowery, unmarked at the back post, fired over from 12-yards.
Crewe continued to press forward for a second goal after the restart, and were almost rewarded within two minutes when Finney’s shot crashed into the side netting.
Greatorex then had to be at his best again as he readjusted well to get a foot to Reilly’s deflected effort moments later.
Louis Wardle tried his luck from distance as Barnsley looked for a way back into the game, before Greatorex kept the Reds in the contest with a stunning reflex save to deny Reilly his second of the match.
With nine minutes to go, Barnsley were rewarded for their dogged second half display as Trialist tapped home into an empty net after Victor Adeboyejo’s effort had been blocked.
The Reds then found themselves in front as the ball fell to Trialist from a corner and he swept it into the far corner, sparking wild celebrations from the visiting team.
But Alex are one of the form teams in the league at the moment, and drew level four minutes from time as Sass-Davies rose highest to power a header beyond Greatorex.
With the game drawing to a close, the hosts were awarded a penalty in injury time after Adam Lund was adjudged to have brought down substitute Luke Walsh in the area.
Up stepped Reilly to coolly slam the ball into the bottom corner to seal a magnificent turnaround for Crewe and claim all three points.
REDS XI: Greatorex, Trialist (Willard, 79), Fielding (Gagen, 60), Lund, Wardle, Trialist (Greenfield, 60), Trialist, Berkovits, Adeboyejo (c), Trialist
Not used: Lomax
CREWE XI: Richards (c), Sass-Davies, Lundstram, Griffiths, Walker, Finney, T. Johnson, Lowery, Reilly, Hurst (Walsh, 71), Adebisi
Not used: Jaaskelainen, Barlow, C. Johnson, Harrison