Crewe Alexandra lost to Hyde United after a penalty shootout in the Cheshire Senior Cup Final.
The youthful Railwaymen side battled hard against a Tigers outfit boasting plenty of higher-level experience, and twice fought back from behind to draw 2-2 after 90 minutes.
Skipper Calum Agius and striker Jack Parry were on target to force the shootout at Witton Albion’s ULOCKIT Stadium.
But the Northern Premier League outfit held their nerve to win 5-4 on spot-kicks.
Under-21s Manager Mike Jackson and Player Development Manager Kenny Lunt named a young side, as Crewe aimed to lift the county cup for the first time since 2016-17.
On-loan Lewis Leigh, suspended from first-team action, was the senior player in a side also featuring Lewis Nolan, Zak Kempster-Down and Max Woodcock.
Hyde broke the deadlock on 19 minutes when ex-Plymouth and Notts County man Lewis Alessandra teed up former Blackpool and Morecambe forward Jack Redshaw for a smart turn and finish.
The Alex had strong penalty claims ignored when Agius was felled in the box, but they drew level on 41 minutes after skilful play from Woodcock saw him beat a man and hit the woodwork with an angled drive, and Agius was on hand to convert the rebound.
However, Hyde took a lead into the break when Matt Fearnley found Alessandra who beat keeper Miki Lenarcik in the bottom corner.
It was an attractive match with two teams looking to play good football, in front of a boisterous crowd.
Crewe levelled for the second time when a slick counter attack saw sub Mo Jatta find Parry for a clinical finish at the far post.
Ex-Alex loan man Harry Bunn, who played in the Premier League with Huddersfield, had a chance to nick it at the death but his shot was superbly blocked by Matty Senior.
Lenarcik made a super stop in the shootout, and Agius, Leigh, Senior and Joe Collins converted their penalties.
But Lucas Sant rattled the woodwork and Stan Dancey was denied by keeper Jordan Eastham, as Hyde lifted the cup.
Crewe: Lenarcik, Dancey, Sant, Nolan (Parry, 65), Senior, Kempster-Down (Jatta, 58), Moore, Leigh, Woodcock (Perry, 87), Agius, Allport (Collins, 87).
