Skipper Sol Buckner was twice given his marching orders as Saxons fell foul of some harsh umpiring decisions in this Sussex League Division Five fixture.
Buckner was given a straight yellow on 15 minutes for tapping the ball away a second after an umpire had blown for a Penguin free hit.
The hosts couldn't take advantage with an extra man and it took a lucky deflection off veteran Bill Butler's stick to break the deadlock on 27 minutes.
A rousing half-time team talk worked wonders for Buckner's men as they returned all guns blazing.
Buckner set up Paul Merison for a cool finish from top of the D on 41 minutes.
Then the ball looped into the net off a Penguin defender's stick after Steve Jenner blasted the ball into the D.
Saxons were in the ascendancy and had chances to extend their lead but couldn't find a way past the home keeper.
The hosts fought their way back after Saxons kept failing to clear their lines and a striker pounced on 57 minutes slotting past Ben Bosden.
And then a similar attack saw Penguin take a 3-2 lead on the hour.
Any chance of a deserved share of the spoils was shattered when Jenner was yellow carded for alleged dissent and Buckner was shown a second yellow for alleged over-appealing.
Buckner said: "I've had two yellow cards in 22 years and then two in one game which kind of says it all really.
"We deserved at least a point so the journey home felt twice as long."
Saxons travel to Southwick III on Saturday for a 12.30pm push back.
Team: Bosden, Roberts, Kellet, Carrington, Butler, Waters, Jenner, Buckner, Merison, Whitaker, Lovell, Woodford,
Man-of-the-match: Butler