When Aaron Collins beat Dean Bouzanis to the ball and clipped it towards goal from an ever-narrowing angle, the slowing of time as the strike drifted towards the back of the net sparked a thought.
This was another memorable moment in a season not at all lacking in them for Bristol Rovers. The highlight reel makes for some viewing with late winners and sublime goals aplenty.
But this one felt different. The others had been more random, like the unexplainable Oxford United comeback in the FA Cup, but Rovers should take great confidence from the fact that not only did they defeat a rival for the top seven in a crucial game in hand – and do it in some style too – but there were also signs of the collective growing.
Rovers were able to create chances from a variety of sources with regularly and the half-time lead should have been greater than one, but their profligacy proved to be inconsequential thanks to Collins' touch of brilliance and a controlled second-half display.
All that matter was Joey Barton's Gas got the job done and closed the gap to League Two's top seven to seven points, but the fact they did it this way against a team – albeit somewhat depleted by injury – that have caused all comers problems this season can only heighten belief that the final stretch of the season is laden with opportunity for the men donning the blue and white quarters.
A shift in a season of moments
Have Rovers played to a high level for a full 90 minutes all season? Certainly, before this game, that would have been a tough question to answer.
Overall cohesion and success from structure has been lacking. Individual quality and a steely character have combined to do most of the heavy lifting for the Gas, but they have seldom looked like a promotion team in the sense of the collective working effectively.
The victory over Sutton was different. Wins over Hartlepool and Walsall at the Mem in January proliferated confidence and got the Gas on a roll, but on Tuesday they were able to carve out chances with regularity.
Rovers' six-game unbeaten run to start the new year was hugely encouraging, late winners cannot always be relied on. It was crucial that the Gas found higher levels of performance and sustainability and this victory pointed to things heading in the right direction.
It was not scrappy and gutsy or earned by one moment of quality. Instead, it was both defensively efficient and free-flowing in attack and if performances continue in this vein Gasheads will have no choice but to believe.
It was not quite a complete performance, but it may be as close as Rovers have come under Barton this term with the pieces of the puzzle starting to fit together.
Arrogant Gas
Individual ability is perhaps the greatest quality of this group of players, with several match-winners for Barton to call on, but rarely has there been the collective arrogance that Rovers showed on Tuesday night.
The Gas were certainly in the mood from the off, with Sam Finley's ambitious yet perfectly executed sidewinding pass to Sam Nicholson wide right in the opening moments setting the tone.
Finley was the cute creator, slipping reverse passes just out of the reach of Sutton legs and turning smartly to chance the point of the attack.
Sam Nicholson stayed high and wide and found plenty of joy in driving at the defence with the ball at his feet.
And Elliot Anderson summed the performance up with his head-spinning moves on the half turn to rapidly up the tempo. The Newcastle United loanee also produced an elastico – perhaps most famously performed by Ronaldinho in his pomp – to create a shooting chance.
That moment alone captured the confidence that is flowing through a squad that was often bereft of belief earlier in the season. All the metrics are pointing up for Rovers.
These clean sheets are different
Tuesday's victory was underpinned by Rovers' eighth clean sheet of the season and their fourth straight at the Mem, but the latter three feel vastly different to the other shutouts earlier in the campaign.
Many of those were the product of defensive heroics and James Belshaw acrobatics, but the goalkeeper has had a much quieter time against Walsall, Mansfield Town and Sutton.
Sutton created moments of danger, mainly from set plays, but in the end, Belshaw had just one serious save to make, coming from a long-range strike that he would back himself to repel each and every time.
Sustainable success is built upon a solid defensive foundation and Rovers are improving in that regard. They have a goalkeeper who has the implicit trust of his teammates and in Connor Taylor the Gas are renting one of the finest defensive prospects in the whole of the EFL.
Luca Hoole has developed immensely into a must-pick player at right-back for Barton, while 20-year-old James Connolly is looking more assured by the game.
And with Nick Anderton dominating in the air like a jet-powered Andy Carroll in recent times, the Gas are proving harder and harder to beat.
Harry Anderson flourishing
Injuries and a change of shape have given Harry Anderson a crack in a more natural position for the former Lincoln City favourite, and the 25-year-old has gratefully clutched the opportunity.
Anderson has always put the team first since becoming a Rovers player, doing a job at right-back, right wing-back and left-wing back at different times this season.
But he is a winger by trade and Rovers are getting more from him in an advanced position on the flank.
He opened the scoring – taking his account for Rovers to three – with a sumptuous sweeping finish after just four minutes and he was a pest to the defence throughout the piece.
Doubtless, he will continue to do whatever is asked of him by the manager, but Anderson's success in an attacking role does give Barton great depth in the position. Rovers have many talented players who move towards the ball and look to create, but often Anderson's first thought is the danger he can pose in behind and having a blend of both traits is vital to having an attack that is diverse and unpredictable.
The next step, winning on the road
"Five or six out of 10" was Barton's assessment in his post-match debrief with reporters in the bowels of the West Stand on Tuesday, underlining the fact that there is a way to go before Rovers can be considered the finished article.
One of the steps that must be taken in the final 17 games is improving the form on the road. Scunthorpe United are the only team Rovers have beaten in their past six away games and the reality is the Gas will have to mirror their improving home fortunes on their trips away from BS7 in the remaining weeks of the campaign.
Next up for the Gas is a trip to Stevenage, who have improved under former Rovers boss Paul Tisdale and they have plenty of wily operators in their side including Michael Bostwick and former Gas midfielders Chris Lines and Ed Upson.
Nonetheless, Rovers objectively are the better team and should win the game if they perform accordingly, but randomness remains a big factor in the outcome of League Two games.
Tuesday's victory over Sutton reignited belief after a frustrating three-game run without a win, and three more points on Saturday could see the bandwagon start to accelerate.
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