Jamie Cureton scored twice as Exeter prevented Sheffield Wednesday going top of League One in emphatic style.
The 35-year-old put the Grecians ahead with a neat turn and shot from the edge of the area.
Tommy Miller hit back from six-yards, but Liam Sercombe fired in a spectacular long-range volley.
Scott Golbourne found the bottom corner from inside the area, before Cureton rolled in from close range and John O'Flynn fired in a low effort.
The game was the only one to go ahead in League One after fans joined ground staff at St James Park to clear snow from the pitch and stands.
But it was a disappointing start to the Milan Mandaric-era for Wednesday who arrived in Devon knowing victory would send them to the top of the table.
That rarely looked on the cards as the Owls defence capitulated against an Exeter side oozing attacking intent.
After Cureton's effort was cancelled out by Miller, Exeter put a shaky-looking Owls backline under increasing pressure as Sercombe flashed a shot from the corner of the area just wide.
Billy Jones then went close with a header which appeared to be heading for the top corner until Nicky Weaver pawed it behind.
Exeter finally found the breakthrough courtesy of Sercombe's brilliant effort before hesitation in the Owls defence allowed Golbourne to grab the third.
Cureton's calm finish put things beyond doubt before O'Flynn's shot completed Wednesday's misery and a win which saw the Grecians within a point of the play-off spots.
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon: "It was a great day. I've been questioned a number of times as to why I've stayed at Exeter and today was a perfect example of why.
"I only relaxed once we'd scored our fifth, that's my nature as you never know what can happen.
"We kept our tempo high and it was a really professional, good performance and I'm more than happy with they way the team have played."
Sheffield Wednesday boss Alan Irvine told BBC Radio Sheffield: "I'm very angry, extremely disappointed and surprised. We seemed to just cave in after the second goal. The defending in the second half was appalling.
"Before today we had the second best defensive record in the league.
"I'll obviously have a look at what went on as I always do and learn lessons from it."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Npower League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Exeter
5-1
Sheff Wed
FT
(HT 1-1)
Cureton 29
Sercombe 58
Golbourne 61
Cureton 72
O'Flynn 88
Miller 31
Exeter
30 Krysiak
02 Tully
03 Duffy
06 Taylor
11 Golbourne
18 Jones
07 Harley (Thomson 90+1)
08 Noble (Dunne 46)
22 Sercombe
12 Cureton
20 Logan (O'Flynn 57)
Substitutes
27 Jones,
15 Edwards,
04 Dunne,
14 Cozic,
21 Thomson,
10 Nardiello,
29 O'Flynn
Sheff Wed
01 Weaver
02 Spurr
04 Purse
11 Jones
15 Beevers
08 Miller
14 Potter
21 Teale
23 Johnson
24 Sedgwick (Mellor 60)
30 Morrison
Substitutes
25 Jameson,
05 Hinds,
17 O'Connor,
19 Boden,
29 Palmer,
09 Heffernan,
33 Mellor
Ref: GrahamAtt: 5,524
EXETER
SHEFF WED
Possession
Exeter51%
Sheff Wed49%
Attempts on target
Exeter6
Sheff Wed4
Attempts off target
Exeter4
Sheff Wed3
Corners
Exeter9
Sheff Wed6
Fouls
Exeter5
Sheff Wed3
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:09 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+2:26 Corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale.
90:00+0:22 Matthew Taylor challenges Clinton Morrison unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jermaine Johnson.
90:00+0:22 Substitution Jake Thomson on for Ryan Harley.
89:28 A cross is delivered by Gary Teale, Liam Sercombe makes a clearance.
89:13 Gary Teale sends in a cross, Scott Golbourne gets a block in.
88:31 James Dunne concedes a free kick for a foul on Daniel Jones. Gary Teale takes the free kick.
87:12 GOAL - John O'Flynn:Exeter 5 - 1 Sheff Wed Goal scored by John O'Flynn from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Exeter 5-1 Sheff Wed.
86:50 Tommy Spurr delivers the ball, clearance by James Dunne.
85:08 John O'Flynn challenges Darren Potter unfairly and gives away a free kick. Darren Potter restarts play with the free kick.
83:50 Tommy Spurr produces a cross, clearance by Billy Jones.
82:20 Gary Teale sends in a cross, Clinton Morrison takes a shot. Artur Krysiak makes a save.
81:38 Ryan Harley has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.
81:06 The ball is crossed by Ryan Harley, Effort on goal by John O'Flynn from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.
79:48 The referee blows for offside against Jamie Cureton. Indirect free kick taken by Darren Purse.
77:47 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Ryan Harley from the right by-line, Effort on goal by John O'Flynn from inside the box misses to the right of the target.
77:41 Steve Tully delivers the ball, blocked by Tommy Spurr.
74:00 Neil Mellor is ruled offside. Artur Krysiak takes the indirect free kick.
71:04 GOAL - Jamie Cureton:Exeter 4 - 1 Sheff Wed Jamie Cureton scores a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Exeter 4-1 Sheff Wed.
70:37 The ball is crossed by Gary Teale, Steve Tully manages to make a clearance.
69:46 Corner taken by Tommy Spurr from the right by-line, clearance made by Steve Tully.
68:39 Corner taken by Tommy Spurr, Richard Duffy makes a clearance.
67:50 Jermaine Johnson delivers the ball.
66:56 Effort from outside the area by Jermaine Johnson goes wide right of the goal.
65:32 Scott Golbourne takes a shot. Blocked by Darren Purse.
62:20 Corner taken by Ryan Harley, clearance made by Clinton Morrison.
60:38 Centre by Ryan Harley, the assist for the goal came from Ryan Harley.
60:38 GOAL - Scott Golbourne:Exeter 3 - 1 Sheff Wed Scott Golbourne grabs a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Exeter 3-1 Sheff Wed.
Correction - 60:02 Tommy Miller challenges Liam Sercombe unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Richard Duffy.
60:02 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tommy Miller on Liam Sercombe. Richard Duffy takes the direct free kick.
59:04 Substitution Neil Mellor replaces Chris Sedgwick.
57:10 GOAL - Liam Sercombe:Exeter 2 - 1 Sheff Wed Liam Sercombe grabs a goal from outside the box to the top left corner of the goal. Exeter 2-1 Sheff Wed.
56:07 The official flags Clinton Morrison offside. Artur Krysiak takes the free kick.
56:07 Substitution John O'Flynn joins the action as a substitute, replacing Richard Logan.
54:18 The ball is sent over by Scott Golbourne, Darren Purse manages to make a clearance.
52:45 Gary Teale takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Matthew Taylor.
52:09 Free kick awarded for a foul by Richard Duffy on Clinton Morrison. Direct free kick taken by Tommy Spurr.
50:02 A cross is delivered by Steve Tully, Mark Beevers makes a clearance.
49:31 Chris Sedgwick is caught offside. Artur Krysiak takes the free kick.
48:20 A cross is delivered by Daniel Jones.
47:25 Inswinging corner taken by Tommy Spurr from the right by-line, Steve Tully manages to make a clearance.
46:54 A cross is delivered by Billy Jones, Mark Beevers manages to make a clearance.
46:46 James Dunne crosses the ball, clearance made by Daniel Jones.
46:25 Ryan Harley decides to take the corner short.
45:36 Substitution James Dunne comes on in place of David Noble.
45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
Half Time
45:00+2:05 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
45:00+1:41 Ryan Harley is caught offside. Nicky Weaver takes the indirect free kick.
45:00+1:14 Corner taken right-footed by Ryan Harley from the left by-line, clearance by Chris Sedgwick.
45:00+0:49 Corner taken right-footed by Ryan Harley.
45:00+0:41 Richard Logan delivers the ball, clearance made by Mark Beevers.
44:34 Liam Sercombe sends in a cross, blocked by Tommy Miller.
43:33 A cross is delivered by Steve Tully, Darren Purse makes a clearance.
41:20 Jermaine Johnson takes a shot. Richard Duffy gets a block in.
37:09 The ball is swung over by Ryan Harley, clearance made by Gary Teale.
36:41 Corner taken right-footed by Ryan Harley, Darren Purse makes a clearance.
36:34 The ball is delivered by Scott Golbourne, Daniel Jones gets a block in.
35:41 Clinton Morrison takes a shot. Richard Duffy gets a block in.
33:04 The ball is delivered by Scott Golbourne.
30:01 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Tommy Spurr,
30:01 GOAL - Tommy Miller:Exeter 1 - 1 Sheff Wed Tommy Miller finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box high into the middle of the goal. Exeter 1-1 Sheff Wed.
28:21 Assist on the goal came from Richard Duffy.
28:21 GOAL - Jamie Cureton:Exeter 1 - 0 Sheff Wed Jamie Cureton gets on the score sheet with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Exeter 1-0 Sheff Wed.
27:39 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Ryan Harley, Daniel Jones manages to make a clearance.
27:31 Richard Logan delivers the ball, blocked by Gary Teale.
27:21 Scott Golbourne sends in a cross, Darren Purse manages to make a clearance.
27:04 Foul by Tommy Miller on David Noble, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ryan Harley.
25:36 Tommy Spurr produces a cross, clearance by Matthew Taylor.
24:33 Shot from inside the area by Jermaine Johnson clears the bar.
24:08 Foul by Ryan Harley on Tommy Miller, free kick awarded. Darren Purse takes the free kick.
21:48 The ball is crossed by Daniel Jones.
19:00 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Logan by Tommy Miller. David Noble takes the direct free kick.
18:40 The ball is crossed by Clinton Morrison, clearance made by Scott Golbourne.
18:10 Centre by Daniel Jones, clearance made by Matthew Taylor.
17:03 A cross is delivered by Chris Sedgwick, clearance by Billy Jones.
16:17 Steve Tully delivers the ball, clearance made by Daniel Jones.
16:01 The ball is crossed by Richard Logan, Mark Beevers manages to make a clearance.
15:32 The ball is delivered by Daniel Jones, Billy Jones manages to make a clearance.
14:08 The assistant referee signals for offside against Jermaine Johnson. Artur Krysiak takes the free kick.
13:05 Liam Sercombe produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.
12:22 Jamie Cureton sends in a cross, clearance by Tommy Spurr.
8:45 Corner taken left-footed by Billy Jones.
8:29 Corner taken by Ryan Harley.
8:09 Ryan Harley takes a shot. Save by Nicky Weaver.
6:41 Shot from just outside the penalty box by Jermaine Johnson misses to the left of the target.
5:48 The ball is sent over by Daniel Jones.
5:29 Centre by Daniel Jones, Billy Jones manages to make a clearance.
5:16 Jamie Cureton is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Darren Purse.
4:33 Gary Teale is ruled offside. Artur Krysiak takes the free kick.
1:57 The referee blows for offside against Richard Logan. Indirect free kick taken by Nicky Weaver.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
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