Five-star Crewe Alexandra hammered Stevenage to soared into the League Two automatic promotion places.
Two goals in three first-half minutes from Chuma Anene and Oliver Finney gave them daylight before David Artell's men dominated in the second half.
Struggling Stevenage are now without a win in five league games following a defeat that leaves them at the foot of the table at Christmas, two points from safety.
Home goalkeeper Paul Farman produced a fine save to deny Charlie Kirk early on, but Anene arrived at the perfect time to plant Kirk's cross beyond Farman in the 29th minute.
Finney then timed his run to perfection three minutes later to head home another Kirk delivery.
Daniel Powell powered in the third just before the hour when he raced on to a through-ball to fire past Farman.
Anene was denied a second when his header struck the bar, but he made no mistake with a thumping headed effort from Harry Pickering's cross.
To add insult to injury, Scott Cuthbert put Pickering's pass into his own net for Crewe's fifth, although the defender grabbed a consolation at the other end in the closing stages.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
