Town Under 21's eight game unbeaten run came to an end on Monday night after a shock defeat to Malt Shovel at The CNG Stadium.
After conceding a goal inside the first minute, Max Landau hit back with a sweet half volley from the edge of the box that nestled into the bottom corner.
The equaliser did not shock the visitors though, who raced into a 3-1 lead at the break.
Mistakes then undid any potetial Town comeback as a Andy Higgins own goal and finish into an empty net after Liam Powell's wayward pass saw Josh Falkingham's side concede five.
In what must have been the first ten seconds of the contest Charlie Baird almost put Town ahead after latching on to a long ball, but only find the legs of the Shovel stopper.
Seconds later the visitors made Town pay for not taking their early opportunity, storming up the other end of the pitch and firing past Liam Powell through Pearse from just outside the area.
Josh Falkingham's side were level just seven minutes later when Landau ran onto a loose ball and volleyed into the bottom left corner.
Midway through the first half Malt Shovel restored their advantage as Fox powered home a header from close range following a left wing cross.
The visitors continued to have the better of the goal mouth action, but with seconds to play of the first half Baird rounded the goalkeeper and looked certain to equalise, but couldn't squeeze his finish between the posts.
Three minutes into the second half Malt Shovel added their third as, after a last ditch tackle intercepted a cross, Precious ran onto the loose ball and dispatched past Powell.
Six minutes later Town conceded a fourth goal in comedy fashion as Andy Higgins' back pass was missed by Powell and ended up in the back of the stopper's net.
Baird and second half substitute Sam Clark tried to hand their side a lifeline, but both's attempts were slightly wide of the top corner.
Another error at the back gifted Shovel their fifth of the evening as Powell's wayward pass was struck over the 'keeper's net into the empty goal.
Town pressed for a second late on, but couldn't find the goal that would make the scoreline slightly easier on the eye.
Town U21s : Powell, Gibson, Swain, Heppenstall (Clark 59), Higgins, Brettell, Heatley (Riley 59), Robinson, Baird, Landau, Attakorah
Subs not used: Myers, Steele, Dolby
Goals: Landau 8