A host of first team players were able to get minutes as the Brewers faced Shrewsbury Town in the Central League Cup.
Ben Fox, Ben Turner, Joe Sbarra and Damien McCrory all started at the Montgomery Waters Meadow, alongside Young Brewers Tom Armitage and Tom Hewlett.
Marcus Harness scored twice in a 4-3 defeat, in which Elliot Hodge also got on the scoresheet.
The Brewers took the lead when Academy graduate Marcus Harness was brought down in the box by Ryan Sears and a penalty was awarded. Harness took the kick himself and converted to open the scoring.
Former Wycombe Wanderers forward Lee Angol levelled things up for the hosts in the 30th minute. Winger Abo Eisa drove down the left and crossed for Angol to tap the ball into the net at the back post.
Elliot Hodge fired the Brewers back in front before half-time after his deflected strike found its way into the net.
Shortly after half-time, Shrewsbury drew themselves level. Angol latched onto Charlie Colkett’s pass and fired past Callum Hawkins to score his second of the game.
Angol then secured his hat-trick in the 65th minute after Shrewsbury broke from a Brewers set-piece and opened up the defence to take the lead for the first time in the contest. Shaun Whalley then fired home Shrewsbury’s fourth with five minutes to go.
Harness scored his second in the 90th minute but the Brewers were unable to draw level.
Academy Manager Dan Robinson said: “It was a good opportunity for the players to get some game time against a strong Shrewsbury team.
“The game did exactly what a reserve game is there to fulfil: senior players who are trying to get into the first team got minutes. Players (Ben Fox and Ben Turner) who are coming back from injury got minutes in preparation for getting back in the first team and Academy players had the opportunity to experience playing against senior players and push themselves to give themselves a chance to progress as a professional.
“There was a really good balance of all three factors of what a reserve game should be.”