Hereford United tore the previously-impressive Darlington defence apart to notch their most conclusive win of the season.
The Quakers went into the game with just five in the goals against column in 13 games but saw that tally doubled as the Bulls produced perhaps their best 90 minutes of league action of the campaign.
Hereford were quickly out of the traps and could have been four goals to the good after only 12 minutes.
As it was, they only found the net on one occasion when Richard Rose, deputising in defence for the suspended Karl Broadhurst, thumped home a header from Clint Easton's corner.
Rose saw another similar header saved by goalkeeper David Stockdale a couple of minutes later and Darlington's last line of defence came to his side's rescue twice more in the following minutes.
The former York keeper dived to turn away a free-kick from Robert Threlfall and then pushed Theo Robinson's header behind for a corner.
Against the run of play, Darlington equalised on 16 minutes when the experienced Julian Joachim evaded Trent McClenahan on the right and his cross was crashed into the net by Joe Colbeck.
But Hereford were back in front five minutes later when, following a fine build-up, Trevor Benjamin laid a pass into the path of Robinson who slid a shot into the corner of the net.
The Bulls' third, 70 seconds into the second period, owed a little to luck as Alan White's attempted clearance ricocheted into the net off Ben Smith's instep.
But there was no doubting the quality of the fourth as Lionel Ainsworth raced away down the right before delivering the cross for Benjamin to rifle in his sixth goal of the season.
Darlington continued to press and Wayne Brown had to produce a couple of good saves to maintain the margin before Easton slid in McClenahan's stoppage-time cross to complete the rout.