Notts County are third, two points behind Cambridge in second following the win
Lee Ndlovu marked his first Notts County start by scoring two goals and setting two up as they demolished Tranmere 5-0 to move back into the League Two automatic promotion places.
Ndlovu, signed from Barnet last month, produced an energetic display as Rovers fell to an eighth defeat in nine games.
He created County's 15th-minute opener by bursting past Stephen Negru to cross low from the left, with Nathan Smith's attempted clearance rebounding in off Jason Lowe for an own goal.
Ndlovu, denied when one-on-one with goalkeeper Marko Marosi on the half-hour mark, did score less than 50 seconds after half-time, turning in Nick Tsaroulla's deflected cross from close range.
Tranmere's self-destruction continued in the 55th minute as they lost the ball trying to play out from the back and Tom Iorpenda sent in Conor Grant, who squared for an unmarked Ndlovu to finish from 12 yards out.
Two minutes later, Ndlovu played in Jodi Jones, whose angled shot was deflected in off Lowe for County's fourth.
And their biggest win of the season was wrapped up four minutes from the end as Harald Nilsen Tangen was dragged back by Smith and fellow substitute Matthew Dennis slotted in the penalty for his 14th goal of the season.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Paterson: 'A clean sheet, really good goals and a real togetherness'
Andy Crosby: 'My worst day as Tranmere manager'
