Injury-ravaged Mansfield Town were torn apart by Rob Hulse's first ever hat-trick for Crewe Alexandra.
Dave Brammer's inside pass released Hulse to round the keeper to score after four minutes.
Ten minutes later the striker rammed in the loose ball from Kenny Lunt's free-kick to make it 2-0.
Rodney Jack, Steve Jones and Lunt were denied further goals by the brilliance of Mansfield's Kevin Pilkington, while at the other end Liam Lawence and sub Andy White went close to launching a home revival.
But then Hulse completed his treble from Jack's cross before Jack scrambled home number four after Hulse hit the post