Starting like they had an extra pair of legs not just fresh legs, Yeovil stormed into an early 3-0 lead to stun their promotion-chasing hosts.
Alex Fisher set the tone after just five minutes with a close-range finish, before Francois Zoko got in on the act six minutes later with a typically composed strike from inside the box.
Completing a stunning opening quarter-of-an-hour, Fisher’s persistence earned him a second of the match by dinking an effort over Lee Burge, as the Green & Whites produced their best opening 45 minutes of the season.
Needing a miracle, Max Biamou reduced the deficit two minutes after the restart but Zoko reinstated the three-goal lead with a superb solo goal.
Continuing the free-scoring theme, Biamou grabbed his second of the game with an unstoppable half-volley from 25 yards before substitute Sam Surridge netted a brace in the final 10 minutes to confirm a memorable win in the West Midlands.
Pleased with what he saw a fortnight ago during the 1-0 win at Colchester, Darren Way opted to stick with the starting eleven that earned three points in Essex.
Making just one change to the matchday 18, Oscar Gobern returned to the bench at the expense of Marcus Barnes, who joined Corey Whelan and Connor Smith in the stands.
Releasing what must have been pent up frustration at being out of action for 16 days, Yeovil began in imperious form.
Menacing from the off, the visitors opened the scoring early on when Shaun Donnellan’s ball across the box was smashed home by Fisher after Burge had failed to deal with Lewis Wing’s initial cross.
Positively purring, the lead was doubled on 11 minutes when Wing won possession in the Sky Blues half before playing in captain Zoko who clinically claimed his 13th of the season.
If a 2-0 lead wasn’t enough, Way’s side added a third with just 15 minutes on the clock as Fisher capitalised on a weak back-header by Jack Grimmer to loop a shot over Burge for his third goal in two matches.
Stunning the home crowd, Coventry struggled to find any way past a resolute Yeovil defensive unit until the half-hour mark.
Kyel Reid’s looping cross picked out top scorer Mark McNulty at the back post but the striker somehow missed the target with his header from a yard out.
Threatening to build up a head of steam Mark Robins’ side continued to press, but Biamou’s tame strike into the arms of Nelson was as good as it got.
At the other end, Fisher almost rounded off a dream first half only for the linesman’s flag to rule out his diving header as the Glovers more than settled for a 3-0 lead at the halfway stage.
Clearly needing to change approach, Coventry switched goalkeeper at the break but it was first-half substitute Biamou who galvanised the Sky Blues on 47 minutes.
McNulty got in behind the Town defence and managed to pick out his French strike partner who gave Nelson no chance from six yards.
If the West Midlands outfit sniffed the chance of a comeback, it was extinguished before the hour-mark when Zoko completed his brace.
Outmuscling Dominic Hyam, the Ivorian left Coventry’s central defender behind for pace before picking out the back of the net from an acute angle with 55 minutes played.
However, Coventry’s French striker wasn’t done yet and made it 4-2 with a stunning half-volley from all of 25 yards which gave Nelson no chance, to reignite the embers of an enthralling game.
Entering a potentially nervy final 10 minutes, the 271 travelling Yeovil fans were able to finally relax when Surridge met Oscar Gobern’s cross to make it 5-2.
Already one for the history books, the Bournemouth loanee made it more resounding in stoppage time with a sublime outside of the boot finish to round off the scoring and complete a mesmerising afternoon at the Ricoh Arena.
Coventry City: Burge (O’Brien 46′); Grimmer, McDonald, Hyam, Haynes (Barrett 73′); Vincenti (Biamou 34′), Doyle, Bayliss, Reid; McNulty, Clarke-Harris.
Bookings:
Subs not used: Stokes, Davies, Shipley, Ponticelli.
Yeovil Town: Nelson; James, Sowunmi, Donnellan, Dickson; Green (Khan 90′), Wing, Bird (Gobern 77′), Browne; Fisher (Surridge 74′), Zoko.
Bookings: Green 63′
Subs not used: Maddison, Mugabi, Santos, Seager.