It was arguably the perfect way to cap off an excellent end to 2022, with Notts County confirming they will start the new year top of the National League, with the intention of remaining there in May.
The Magpies provided a Boxing Day cracker in front of almost 10,000 inside Meadow Lane, with Cedwyn Scott, Kyle Cameron, and Ruben Rodrigues on the scoresheet despite Joe Nuttall levelling the scores early on.
111 goals. 101 points. Luke Williams' Notts side has got fans believing again and many are excited for what 2023 has to offer.
READ MORE: Cedwyn Scott hungry 'for more' following latest Notts County brace
Here are the key talking points from their win over Oldham...
Players stepping up
While emphasis has been focused on the size of Notts' squad this campaign, those 20 players are showing that quality overpowers quantity in recent weeks.
Another five changes were made from their FA Trophy win over Chorley a week ago, but that in no way weakened Williams' side as they continue their push for the National League title.
As mentioned before their fixture with Oldham the Magpies boss highlighted how midfielder Sam Austin had stepped up in recent weeks, and that was evident with another impressive display as competition for places intensifies in that position.
The number of options in that central midfield role has almost become a revolving door in terms of team selection, with all of those players staking a claim for a regular starting place in recent weeks, none more so than Ed Francis.
With just four starts in the league up until their fixture with Gateshead two weeks ago, the 23-year-old impressed against the Latics with another composed display after the recent suggestion that maybe a loan move away from Meadow Lane could be considered in January.
To also have the option to bring a player of John Bostock's quality on for the final 20 minutes is a luxury to have, with his confidence and composure on the ball almost replicant of a light training session and not a National League match.
In the absence of Macaulay Langstaff, his former Gateshead team-mate Scott rose to the occasion by adding two more goals to his Notts total this campaign.
Given the form of the National League's top scorer, the 24-year-old has been reduced to substitute appearances in recent weeks but showcased his quality in front of goal by taking his tally to double figures for the season and making it 32 goals so far between the pair signed from the Heed in the summer.
The performances of the squad are affecting those around them, taking performances to a new level as a potential promotion-deciding period edges nearer.
Tobi Adebayo-Rowling decision
The return of Adam Chicksen provided a timely injury boost ahead of January, but many believed his return to the squad at the expense of Tobi Adebayo-Rowling was a little harsh given his performance against Chorley.
The 26-year-old started in his normal position on the right-hand side in the FA Trophy but switched to the opposite side during the first half and produced a brilliant display on the night.
Speaking after the game, Williams was able to explain the reasoning behind the decision and understood the frustrations Adebayo-Rowling may have had by missing out on a starting place.
"I think Tobi should feel somewhat unlucky not to play," said Williams.
"Because his form has been brilliant, the other night he was very good.
"Aaron got two assists the other night, Chicks has been formidable all season and has scored a lot of goals, assisted brilliantly and his defensive work has been outstanding.
"Today, he came into the team but as you have seen, players arrive into the team and they're out the team the next week and so on.
"We have a very healthy squad and we need to make sure everyone is included in the squad and when it is the right moment, they are available to play."
Sharing the spoils
Kyle Cameron's first goal of the season made it 14 different scorers for the Magpies this season as Williams' side continues to rubbish the claims that they are a 'one-man team'.
Only five outfield players are yet to find the back of the net this campaign, three of which are defenders, with one surprising name on the list being Sam Austin, with the midfielder only scoring in Notts' FA Cup and FA Trophy fixtures against Coalville Town and Chorley respectively.
The threat from all over the pitch has been evident throughout the season with Notts averaging almost three goals a game so far in the league, and they could have well made that statistic even higher against a poor Oldham side yesterday.
The Magpies scored 111 goals in 2022 with more than half (63) coming during Williams' tenure at the club, further highlighting the attacking philosophy instilled into his players in such a short amount of time.
Their highest total in a league season came in the 1959/60 season, with the Magpies scoring 107 goals and gaining promotion from Division 4 as Stan Newsham scored 23 times under Frank Hill.
This current crop of Notts players will find themselves in good company should they manage to break that record, with the most points in a season not beyond the realms of possibility, needing 43 points from their remaining 22 games to better the 99 points achieved in the 1997/98 Division Three season under Sam Allardyce.
Jim O'Brien absence explained
Influential midfielder Jim O'Brien was not named in the matchday squad to take on the Latics on Saturday afternoon despite featuring in midweek against Chorley.
The 35-year-old has endured a period on the sidelines over the past couple of months after overcoming an injury picked up against Wrexham back in October before marking his return with a goal against Scunthorpe at the start of the month.
His absence from the squad was detailed by Williams following the game, with the midfielder expected to return to the squad in the new year.
Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, Williams said: "It's unfortunate for Jim because he suffered an injury in training, but it's not serious at all.
"We think that Jim will be available very soon. He had a trapped nerve that was affecting him in a bad way for the past two days so he was unavailable."
No rest for the wicked
With many across the country putting their feet up to relax over the festive period, the Magpies will less fortunate as they prepare for a congested start to 2023.
Williams' side travel to Boundary Park on New Year's Day in a festive double-header against the Latics, followed by six more games in January including their fourth-round FA Trophy fixture with Maidstone.
With Langstaff expected to return for the Magpies' New Year's Day fixture with the Latics, Williams will almost have a fully fit squad to choose from except Connell Rawlinson and Jim O'Brien.
Wrexham continued to put pressure on the league leaders by dispatching Solihull Moors to a 5-0 defeat at the Racecourse Ground, keeping within touching distance of the Magpies as they reach the halfway stage of their campaign.
With Phil Parkinson's side's progression to the next round of the FA Cup, it offers Notts the chance to open up a more comfortable gap at the top of the table, but fixtures against Boreham Wood and a visit to the Proact to take on Chesterfield in January could prove pivotal come the end of the season.
