Lee Bell and Michael Jackson fielded a younger than usual side against QPR at the weekend, and unfortunately came out on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline.
Goals from Olaolu Odipe & Luke Walsh twice had The Alex in front, but a hat-trick from R's starlet Jardel Francis-Adeyuka ensured the Londoners took all three points away from Reaseheath.
First year scholar Odipe gave Crewe the lead on 15 minutes, reacting quickest to slam home a rebound after a direct free-kick was saved.
Adeyuka then missed a penalty for the visitors before registering his first goal of the game in the 36th minute, firing a low effort past Booth at the near post after collecting a long ball.
Walsh curled a delightful effort into the top corner from the edge of the box to restore Crewe's lead just two minutes later to give Bell's troops a half-time 2-1 advantage.
Adeyuka notched his second four minutes after the interval following a fast counter-attack from the R's, finishing the move by side-footing home from just inside the box.
The hat-trick winning goal came on 86 minutes in a cruel twist of fate for Crewe, the striker finshing low first time into the corner from a crisp pass across the box.
Crewe: Booth, T.Johnson, Barlow, Manuel, Adibisi, Griffiths, Walsh, Odipe, Thompson, C.Johnson, Hurst