Crewe Alexandra suffered their first defeat of pre-season with a 4-2 loss at Nantwich Town.
The Railwaymen had taken the lead midway through the first-half home after a Josh Langley own-goal but the home side responded just before the break through Joe Malkin.
Former Alex forward Callum Saunders then scored a second-half hat-trick to put Nantwich 4-1 up before Eddie Nolan grabbed a goal back for Crewe late on.
The home side started the game well, with Troy Bourne firing an early chance over.
Crewe grew into the contest and soon started to control possession with Daniel Powell having an effort well blocked.
Just before the half-hour mark Crewe had the lead. Tommy Lowery fed Powell down the Nantwich right and his dangerous cross was turned into his own net by Langley.
The Dabbers were still in the game though and just before the break they were level as former Alex trialist Malkin raced clear to slot home past Dave Richards.
Nantwich made three changes after the break and one of those changes, Callum Saunders, put Nantwich ahead seven minutes after the break. After winning possession in midfield the ball was fed for Saunders who fired past Richards for 2-1.
Four minutes later Saunders had his second Nantwich’s third. Once again Nantwich won the ball back in midfield and fed Saunders who drilled the ball home with a confident finish.
Just after the hour mark boss Dave Artell gave Luke Murphy some minutes as he replaced Tommy Lowery. The former Crewe skipper has been training at Reaseheath over the summer and quickly slotted back into the heart of the Alex midfield.
Murphy nearly found Powell with a long-range pass but it was Nantwich who got the next goal and it was Saunders who completed his hat-trick with a stunning curling finish from the edge of the box.
Josh Lundstrum had a chance to reduce the deficit for the Alex after good play by Owen Dale, Callum Ainley and Murphy.
They did get their goal back in the closing stages. An Ainley shot was well blocked but the found Nolan who’s hooked effort looped over everybody in the Nantwich box and into the goal.
That was the last real action of the game as Crewe suffered their first loss of pre-season.
Crewe: Richards, Ng, Nolan, Sass-Davies, Adebisi, Lundstrum, Robbins, Lowery (Murphy 60), Dale, Powell, Ainley