DAVE Artell grimaced as he watched Crewe's unwanted Papa John's Trophy fixture turn into a "basketball game".

The Gresty Road clash proved to be far too open for the Alex boss' liking as the game ebbed and flowed between both goalmouths in an incredibly open second-half.

Shrewsbury edged the goal feast to top the group, but there could have been more than seven goals as both sides defending left a lot to be desired.

Daniel Powell netted a brace as Crewe fought back after going two down in the first half to lead 3-2 by the hour mark, while Offrande Zanzala - one of nine changes made by Artell - celebrated his first goal for the club.

But Shilow Tracey, on loan from Tottenham, stole the show for Salop scoring twice inside six minutes to complete a hat-trick and inflict Crewe's first defeat in this season's competition.

Artell admitted: "It's a game that neither side wanted. I think we'd have both flipped a coin and seen what side of the Papa John's pizza it landed on.

"It did offer 90 minutes for some lads who haven't played 90 minutes for a while. Regan Griffiths was excellent on his debut and Daniel scored a couple of goals.

"But there were some negatives as well - plenty of negatives.

"The first two goals were shambolic. Then we were 3-2 up and it turned into a basketball game. The turnover of possession was very high and I think Shrewsbury had more legs than us in the end.

"It can't be like that and we need to have a calming presence – but I think we lost the game 10 minutes before they scored the equaliser (for 3-3) ."

Shrewsbury too rang the changes, seven in all, while Crewe had youngsters Travis Johnson and Rio Adibisi starting in an unfamiliar back four, in which Eddie Nolan and Olly Lancashire made rare appearances.

They were soon up against it against a lively Salop attack. On-loan Australian winger Matthew Millar flung himself at Ryan Barnett's cross to head in Shrewsbury's opener (17).

Then Barnett's fierce drive diverted off Tracey to beat Dave Richards for the second (24).

Unlike Crewe, Salop fielded a first-choice backline. Ro-Shaun Williams, Aaron Pierre and Ethan Ebanks-Landell, were untroubled in the opening half an hour. But then they started to creak open too.

Powell latched onto an excellent pass from Griffiths, making his Alex debut, and shot across Harry Burgoyne to cut the defecit (34).

Burgoyne was off his line bravely to thwart Zanzala soon after. But the striker made sure when he got in front of Ebanks-Landell and hooked the ball home from close range (40).

Crewe were ahead (60) when Zanzala, recovered from a knock late in the first half, intricately weaved some space in the box for Powell, who showed good composure when finishing from close range.

Yet an open game had more goals left in it and a fine finish from Tracey levelled matters up again (76). Played in down the right by sub Donald Love, the loanee surged into the box and lifted the ball deftly over Richards.

Minutes later Pierre's header was cleared off the line before livewire Tracey completed his hat-trick to put Salop ahead (82), snaffling the rebound after Sean Goss' effort was pushed out by keeper Richards.

Crewe were close to taking proceedings to a penalty shoot-out as Powell, with eyes too on a hat-trick, cut in and thrashed the far post with Oli Finney blazing the rebound over.

On Griffiths' promising start, Artell said: "Regan's loan at Witton Albion was cancelled because of coronavirus. But he's come in tonight and without getting carried away he has shown real promise.

"He was our best player. He kept the ball well, I can't remember him giving it away."

Crewe: Richards; Johnson, Nolan, Lancashire, Adibisi; Griffiths, Ainley, Finney; Dale, Zanzala, Powell. Subs: Jaaskelainen, Ng, Pickering, Beckles, Wintle, Lowery, Kirk.

Shrewsbury: Burgoyne; Williams, Pierre, Ebanks-Landell; Millar (Love), Goss, Vela, Zamburek; Barnett, Daniels (Caton), Tracey (Lloyd). Subs: Iliev, High, Aris