With a swing of his left foot, Ryan Astles ensured cult hero status among Chester FC fans at Tranmere on Saturday.
The big defender ensured the 1,129 travelling Chester fans left Prenton Park with smiles on their faces after the Blues earned a deserved 2-2 draw at the high-flying big spenders .
There were strong performances across the pitch as Jon McCarthy's side fought back from 2-0 down against 10-man Rovers, but there was one performance that was particularly heartening and bodes well for the remainder of the season.
James Alabi has come in for some criticism from some corners this season, whether it be for not winning enough headers or not scoring enough goals.
The goals part, I'm sure, is something that the striker will be only too keen to address but Saturday demonstrated just what he brings to the table.
He was excellent against Rovers and had, arguably, his best game since netting four in the 8-2 win over Aldershot Town last season.
It wasn't just that he was a threat going forward, held his own physically, won headers and allowed the Blues to press higher up the pitch, it was that all of the above was done while facing the evergreen Steve McNulty.
He may have a physique that doesn't quite marry with the image of the modern day professional footballer and looks like he drinks more Stella Artois than green tea, but McNulty is, whether one would like to admit it or not, one of the finest defenders outside of the Football League.
He knows how to bully his opponents into submission and he has always possessed the ability to read the game superbly, making up for his lack of pace.
But on Saturday he found himself trapped in the pocket of Alabi and unable to influence the game as he would usually be able to.
Alabi gave McNulty more than he bargained for and where in previous encounters Chester have had with the silver-haired beast he has stood out and looked a cut above, the 22-year-old Blues striker made him look decidedly ordinary.
And let's not forget Alabi's age.
His muscular frame and size and pretty lengthy list of clubs before the Blues can give the impression that he is someone who is older than his 22 years. But he is very much still someone learning his craft, trying to add facets to his game while shouldering the burden of leading the line for the Blues in a tough league.
He's not a natural target man but he is improving week on week in that role. He is a confidence player and someone who usually makes a bigger impact when he has that broad smile beaming across his face.
Saturday really seemed like a breakthrough for him. The challenge now is to keep pushing himself on to strengthen that partnership with Kane Richards and find the net with more regularity.
With a smile on his face you imagine that there is plenty more to come from him.
