JORDAN RHODES became Notts Countys tartan tormentor as Huddersfield Town turned on the style to give their League I promotion rivals, and the rest of the country, a signal of their top-two intentions.
Fresh from making his Scotland Under 21 debut, Rhodes struck either side of a Gary Roberts goal as the men from the East Midlands were taken apart in front of the Sky cameras.
It was a Sunday treat for the Town faithful as Lee Clarks side set a new club record of 18 league games unbeaten in the same season.
It was a fourth win in five games, and fifth in seven for Town, who with Lee Peltier back after a four-match ban and Liam Ridehalgh making a first appearance in 17 games in place of the injured Gary Naysmith in the other full-back berth, started at an encouragingly high tempo.
County keeper Stuart Nelsons first act was to fend off a sliced clearance by his own centre-back Liam Chilvers after Scott Arfield and Danny Ward combined neatly within the first 60 seconds.
Nelson had to react even more smartly in the fourth minute, using his legs to block when Benik Afobe, played in by Roberts after the winger worked a neat one-two with Peltier, shot low from eight yards.
While Craig Westcarr brought Town keeper Ian Bennett, back in place of the injured Alex Smithies, into the action to deal with a cross-cum-shot in the 11th minute, Clarks men were soon back on the attack.
It took a timely tackle by County captain Mike Edwards to rob Afobe as he shaped to shoot from Arfields well-placed pass a minute later.
Then the creator turned marksman, firing in a shot from distance which had Nelson scrambling to make the save.
Afobe was enjoying a busy opening to the game, and drove an angled shot on the turn from the left side of the penalty area into the side-netting.
Wards 23rd-minute cross from the left gave Rhodes the chance of a header on goal, but the frontman was stretching to make contact and couldnt generate the necessary power to trouble Nelson.
And Ward came close himself in the 28th minute, whipping in a fierce angled effort, again from the left, which the overworked Notts keeper blocked.
It was one-way traffic, left-back John Harley making a vital headed clearance with Rhodes and Roberts both waiting for Wards cross to arrive before Peter Clarke headed off target from Roberts well-delivered 35th-minute free-kick.
The goal Town had been threatening all game finally arrived a minute later, and Afobe was the architect, playing a slick one-two with Roberts before haring down the right.
It looked like the teenager would shoot himself, but with Edwards forcing him away from goal, he instead crossed to set up Rhodes for a headed finish.
Bennett saved when Westcarr fired in a 39th-minute free-kick after Jamie McCombe was judged to have fouled the County frontman.
But the first half finished with Town back on the attack, with Nelson parrying Rhodes long-distance drive, then saving from Joey Gudjonssons powerful free-kick following Chilvers bodycheck on Afobe.
Arsenal loan man Afobe was again foiled by Nelsons legs as he latched onto Clarkes pass to go in one-on-one with the keeper a minute after the restart.
Ward brought as good save from Nelson before shooting narrowly wide, but Town couldnt be kept at bay for much longer.
Two goals in five minutes meant the scoreline was far more reflective of the pattern of play, with Roberts making it two in the 58th minute when he lifted Rhodes ball from the left over Nelson.
Rhodes volleyed his second and Towns third from Afobes flicked pass, and when the same player again set him up in the 66th minute, he might have had a hat trick, but couldnt get a clean connection.
While Afobe and Rhodes were given rousing ovations when substituted, this was a top all-round team effort.
