At the start of this season, Adam Chicksen had scored just once for Notts County after joining from Bolton Wanderers in 2020.
But in what has been a remarkable turnaround for the Zimbabwean, he netted his ninth Magpies goal of the season under Luke Williams, bettering his entire total from his 15-year career this campaign.
His latest strike came at a crucial point in Notts' encounter with Chesterfield, turning home Aaron Nemane's inviting cross eight minutes after Jeff King saw red for a second bookable offence.
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The goal was enjoyed by the 1961 travelling Magpies fans who made the short trip to Derbyshire, sparking huge celebrations both on and off the pitch, with Chicksen grabbing the Notts crest in his celebrations at the Technique Stadium.
"I was grabbing it", Chicksen explained. "It means a lot and I think a lot of people shy away from that and showing passion for this club.
"I love it here, I love all the players they are like a family and you are allowed to show passion sometimes and it does mean a lot to me.
"That came out and I am so happy to score for them, for the club, and for everyone here."
It was the first time the Zimbabwean had found the back of the net in the league since November but did score in the Magpies' FA Trophy defeat to Maidstone in December.
Chicksen threatened earlier in the game, linking up again with Nemane during the first half only to see his header sail over Ross Fitzsimons' net, but he was rewarded for his persistence that his performances have merited in recent weeks.
"I definitely thought that and it's eaten away at me seeing all the other lads score," Chicksen said when asked if he was due a goal.
"I had that extra bite to press reset and make sure I kept making those movements that we have been taught.
"It's been overdue - frustrating but that's the thing, I pressed reset and got the hunger back and it paid off today.
"You have to keep pushing the goal posts back and you can't be happy and settled on a certain figure or a certain target that you get to, you have to keep pushing the boundaries back and keep having the hunger of going for more otherwise you get comfortable.
The victory not only has great significance in the National League title race, but also extends Notts' incredible unbeaten run to 22 games in this extraordinary campaign for Williams' side.
The 31-year-old has experienced play-off heartache during his time at Meadow Lane, but insisted that there is a different feeling amongst this group of players and expressed his desire to end Notts' four-year stay in the fifth division this season.
"It's special," explained Chicksen.
"I have been in teams where it felt like a family before, but it feels even more so here.
"I feel connected to the lads, it feels like were doing something special here but were still just only three quarters of the way there and to get it over the line would be something special for me.
"I haven't had promotions, I have been close and for me I am dying to be promoted and have that feeling of winning the league and I am going to push as hard as I can for that."
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