Crewe Alexandra Under 23s were edged out by Coventry City in a 4-3 thriller in the West Midlands, with new signing Chuma Anene getting a run-out from the start.
The Alex took the lead towards the end of the first period through Lewis Reilly, but were pegged back before the break.
The Sky Blues went ahead for the first time moments after the interval, but Joe Robbins levelled things up midway through the half.
They struck twice in the final 15 minutes to take the game away from Crewe at 4-2, but Billy Sass-Davies headed in from a corner in the last minute in what proved to be only a consolation.
Both teams came out of the traps quickly & impressed with their attacking prowess - Crewe taking the lead with 38 minutes on the clock through Reilly, who can play for the Under 23s as part of his agreed loan deal to Telford United.
It was an attack down the right that was pulled back to the edge of the box for Connor to lash into the bottom left corner to seemingly put Alex Morris' side well in control.
But the Sky Blues levelled the contest three minutes shy of half-time through Charlie Wakefield, receiving a ball through from midfield before slotting low into the corner from the edge of the box.
Coventry completed the turnaround just moments after the break, David Bremang converting from six yards after Will Bapaga got in down the right & cut back for the striker.
But Crewe were not to be deterred and levelled matters to 2-2 in the 72nd minute through substitute Joe Robbins' low finish.
But the Sky Blues took the game away from Morris' side inside the final 14 minutes through Max Biamou & Jack Burroughs.
Biamou finished emphatically on 76 minutes, converting Jordan Young's cross from the left before Burroughs scored spectacularly with 87 on the clock - smashing a 30-yard strike into the top corner for 4-2.
But Crewe had the final say, Billy Sass-Davies nodding in from a 90th minute corner-kick to round off a thrilling afternoon in Coventry.
Goals: Reilly (38), Robbins (72), Sass-Davies (90)
Crewe: Booth, Lundstram, Johnson, Griffiths, Offord, Sass-Davies, Heath, Jones (c), Anene, Reilly, Finney