Promotion-chasing Cardiff City kept the heat on rivals Crewe with a comfortable 3-0 win at Chesterfield - and pushed the Spireites further into the relegation dogfight.
Two goals form Peter Thorne and one from skipper Graham Kavanagh were more than enough to earn the three points for Cardiff without breaking sweat.
The gulf between the two sides' League positions was evident from the first whistle, with Cardiff dominating and Thorne was the first to threaten with a dipping volley that went narrowly wide.
The escape served as a wake-up call for the home side who responded with a good spell of their own.
Jonathon Douglas saw his shot from the edge of the box well held by Martyn Margetson and only a last-ditch tackle by Cardiff defender Gary Croft, in atonement for his own error, prevented Mark Hudson from opening the scoring.
Chesterfield forward Glynn Hurst then spurned a great chance by shooting straight at Margetson when the ball broke to him inside the penalty area.
It was in the middle of this spell of Chesterfield pressure that Cardiff snatched the lead.
Hudson was adjudged to have tripped Alan Mahon 25 yards from goal and Kavanagh curled a delightful free-kick over the home wall and past a flat-footed Carl Muggleton to make it 1-0.
But the setback did not alter the pattern of play and Chesterfield again went close moments later when Margetson needed two attempts to smother a long-range effort from Hudson.
Despite the pressure, Chesterfield could not force a breakthrough and Cardiff doubled their lead in the 35th minute.
Hurst lost possession wide on the left and Gareth Ainsworth's pinpoint cross was met by a diving header from Welsh international Robert Earnshaw.
Muggleton reacted superbly to block on the goalline but Thorne was first to the loose ball to make it 2-0.
Much of the second period was again spent with Cardiff pinned in their own half.
But for all their endeavour, Chesterfield rarely looked like snatching a goal to get themselves back into the game. Cardiff, happy to defend their first-half lead, kept a tight grip on danger man Hurst and when Chesterfield did force an opening for David Reeves the striker smashed it high over the bar.
With their minds no doubt on trickier fixtures ahead, Cardiff finished the match on cruise control but still had time for Thorne to snatch a late second, turning home Mahon's cross from six yards out.
Not many of the home fans saw it though - they had begun streaming for the exits long before.
