Crewe Alexandra took a huge step towards division one safety as stand-in striker Colin Little blasted them to a 3-1 victory against Portsmouth.
Little, in for the injured Rodney Jack, scored twice in the opening period and Crewe captain Shaun Smith also netted as the hosts won the game with a devastating first half display.
The warning signs were there for Portsmouth as early as the fifth minute as Crewe's skilful midfield almost broke the deadlock.
Seth Johnson and Danny Murphy linked up well and Murphy played in Jermaine Wright but the Portsmouth keeper slid from his line to clear the danger.
A minute later Knight grabbed the ball from the on-rushing Rivers and it was clear that Crewe were going all-out to get the three points which would virtually assure their first division survival.
Crewe continued to have the better of a bright first period and almost got their reward when Rivers fired over after being released by Johnson.
But the goal Crewe had threatened arrived a minute later as bad defending and ill fortune conspired to sink Portsmouth.
Rivers' smart through-ball played in Little who beat the offside trap and ran unchallenged on goal. Knight slipped and Little gleefully took advantage as he put Crewe in front.
Ten minutes later, Walton won an aerial challenge and flipped the ball on to set Little free in the area and the Crewe number nine made no mistake as he slotted home under Knight.
Claridge forced a good safe from Kearton on 39 minutes as Portsmouth enjoyed their best spell of the game. But Crewe weathered the storm and Little almost made it 3-0 as he forced a point blank save from Knight.
Portsmouth's reprieve was only temporary and in first half stoppage time Smith fired Crewe 3-0 up when he curled a 20-yard free kick past the helpless Pompey keeper.
Portsmouth manager Alan Ball had clearly taken his side to task during the interval and their immediate improvement was rewarded on 49 minutes when Alan McLoughlin was left unmarked in the box and was able to crash a shot past Kearton.
Claridge should have made it 3-2 but fired weakly at Kearton from eight yards and moments later Durnin fired narrowly over as Pompey threatened to haul themselves back in the game.
Portsmouth's second half showing was far removed from their first half capitulation though their hopes of a comeback receded as they failed to turn possession into clear-cut chances.
Crewe confined themselves to playing on the break though Little still had a chance to claim a hat trick but he fired over from a tight angle.