For 30 minutes of their Northern Inland Premier Division clash with Oxley Vale Attunga on Saturday, Kootingal held the competition leaders at bay.
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But the Mushies' class shone through in the last 60, James Kitcher's first of four for the game sparking a goal rush.
The striker went on to slot another three in the first half to give them a 4-nil lead at the break.
Mitch O'Keefe (2), Will Menz and Joel Carter then got in on the action as they doubled that to take the points 8-nil.
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Their first game for a couple of weeks after the long weekend and then wash-out last week, Mushies coach Tim Coates said they played like it, eluding to a bit of rustiness.
"We probably made it harder than it really was," he said.
"But full credit to them (Kootingal), they tried really hard for the first 30 minutes."
He said the Kougars played some very good football in that first half an hour, their goalkeeper also making "some very good saves".
The Mushies did mix things up a bit again with their shape and it worked well.
"I thought we held the midfield very well with five players there," Coates said.
"We dominated the midfield and we made it pretty hard for them to do anything because of that."
He didn't really feel like there was anyone that really stood out. It was a good team effort and good club effort with reserve grade getting up 7-nil.
Elsewhere Gunnedah FC downed Moore Creek 7-2 to keep hold of second spot while South United kicked further clear of fifth-placed Tamworth FC with a 2-1 win.
