Premiership hopefuls Watford did Macclesfield Town the courtesy of showing them no mercy in a clinical display at Moss Rose.
The performance had manager Ray Lewington smiling with appreciation after the game.
"We were superb today," he said. "From one to 11 it was a superb all-round performance.
"We could have been nervous against a third division side but our first-half display in particular was sensational. It is as good as we have played all season." Macclesfield manager David Moss was not about to disagree.
"I was surprised at how quickly they came out of the traps," he said.
"We just could not hold the ball in the first 25 minutes and quite frankly we were lucky to go in at the break only 1-0 down.
"We then had our best spell but they sealed the win with a goal in the middle of our best period." Icelandic international Heidar Helguson should have opened the scoring in the 23rd minute only for Macc keeper Steve Wilson to make a stunning acrobatic save.
However, Wilson was left stranded moments later when Helguson nodded the ball over Michael Welch before lashing a low shot between the keeper's legs.
Both Gifton Noel-Williams and Paolo Vernazza then squandered good chances shooting wide from just 15 yards.
The away side were even more unlucky in the 28th minute, Macclesfield midfielder Danny Whitaker clearing a shot from skipper Neil Cox off the line.
Macclesfield had their best spell moments after the break, Whittaker embarking on a 30-yard run before crashing a long-range chip against the crossbar.
However, the game was sealed on the hour when on-loan Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant sold the defence with a superb shimmy before arrowing a low shot into the far corner.