Ross Hannah took home the match ball for the third time this season as Matlock's more clinical finishing and better defending saw Hucknall demolished on Good Friday night.
Steve Warne and Liam King notched the two opening Matlock goals before Hannah's hat-trick, with Tim Hopkinson managing an equaliser for the Yellows which turned out to be just a consolation.
Scott Brough and Dene Cropper earned recalls in place of the injured Danny Wood with Nathan joynes having to be content with a place on the bench. Kristian Witcombe, a midfielder from the South West, signed just before the transfer deadline, was also a substitute.
A heavy downpour around 3.30 pm had put the game in slight doubt, but sterling work by the Matlock groundstaff and volunteers, armed with forks, ensured that referee James Hermuzi gave the green light for the match to go ahead.
And those efforts were grandly rewarded in an entertaining match which was just six minutes old when Matlock took the lead.
Steve Warne dribbled around the Hucknall defence and into the box to slip a comfortable finish beyond the exposed Dan Haystead.
In a marvellously open game, Hucknall will feel aggrieved by the final scoreline as they contributed hugely to the entertainment value. A long Niall O'Brien throw was punched clear by Adam Sollitt before Laurie Wilson saw two drives blocked and Hopkinson drilled wide.
At the other end Warne fed Ben Algar who fired past a post before Haystead blocked from Hannah. The visitors then counter attacked swiftly and former Gladiator Reuben Wiggins-Thomas fired over the bar from twenty yards. Adrian Hawes volleyed too high after another long throw before Hucknall levelled on 26 minutes as HOPKINSON's low drive from the edge of the box took a deflection to beat Sollitt.
Strangely equalising was possibly the worst thing Hucknall could have done at this stage for Matlock hit a purple patch which saw them strike three times in twelve minutes to lead 4-1 at the break.
On 33 minutes KING broke through into the box, sidestepped the oncoming Haystead and fired home to regain the Gladiators lead. Algar drove narrowly wide and Mark Haran's header was knocked off the line by Jonathan Ventrella.
Matlock were getting in important blocks when Hucknall attacked, one from James Lukic from Wiggins-Thomas being particularly significant and O'Brien curled a shot wide from the rebound.
Hucknall though looked as if they could concede every time Matlock broke forward and the game was put to bed in the couple of minutes leading up to half time, Hannah twice penetrating the visitors' rearguard.
On 43 minutes Algar crossed beautifully from the left, Cropper's thumping header was well kept out by Haystead but HANNAH was sniffing and he converted from close range.
Then just before the whistle Adam Yates found HANNAH superbly. The on fire striker clipped a great finish past Haystead to leave the home fans celebrating for a fourth time and perhaps reflecting that on the balance of the play, a three goal advantage was slightly flattering.
The play was a little less frenzied in the second half but Matlock always looked as if they could add to their lead.
Cropper deserved a goal but didn't get one. He headed a Brough cross inches over before showing pace down the right to cross dangerously for Hucknall to hack desperately clear.
Both sides then struck the bar, substitute Liam Garner for the visitors from distance and almost inevitably Hannah for the Gladiators, with Haystead getting his fingertips to the shot.
Cropper left the field to a standing ovation on 74 minutes and then his replacement Nathan Joynes played a prominent part in Hannah's hat-trick and the hosts' nap hand two minutes later. Brough fed Joynes who slipped a peach of a pass through to HANNAH who yet again, was clinical as he stroked an excellent finish past the once more stranded Haystead.
To their credit Hucknall's young side did not throw in the towel, but they had been guilty of naive defending. Matlock were a real handful going forward and quite simply, were too good and too clever for the visitors.
Hannah was applauded off late on, and while his hat-trick gives him star rating, there were other important contributions all over the park. Mark Haran was solid at the heart of the back four, and Liam King immense in the engine room.
All in all a tasty easter egg for the Matlock fans to savour.
MATLOCK TOWN: Adam Sollitt, Adam Yates, Lee Featherstone, Liam King, Mark Haran, James Lukic, Scott Brough, Steve Warne, Dene Cropper (Nathan Joynes 74), Ross Hannah (Josh Wain 88), Ben Algar (kristian Witcombe 80). Other subs: Nathan Benger, Nick Buxton.
REFEREE: J Hermuzi--Worksop. ATTENDANCE: 335. STAR MAN: Ross Hannah.
