If Stevenage are to go on and secure promotion this season, then the second half at AFC Wimbledon could well be regarded as their lightbulb moment.

They trailed 1-0 after an indifferent first half but made four substitutions in the opening seven minutes of the second period and the transformation was as sudden as if a light switch had been flicked.

And after five games without a victory, the swagger that had placed them as one of the favourites to go up was back.

And for match-winner Luke Norris, the 3-2 victory was another example of the strength of the Boro squad.

He said: "That's why our group is so good. We know it's been a tough time, everyone can see it.  

"We were so good [earlier this season], we had the highs of Aston Villa and then out of nowhere we were really struggling.

"But I'll tell you what, I've been a pro for 10 or 11 years now and I've not been involved in a group like this. 

"The togetherness, how we are everyday at training, people demand standards so we needed this to get us back there. 

"We always believed. We've done it all season but we’ve dropped off for four or five games.

"The first goal set us off but from the start of the second half, we looked a different side. 

"We’re not a one to 11 team, we haven’t been all season. We changed shape and every person can play everywhere and we did. We had [Alex Gilbey] dropping in at right-back. 

"But it's amazing what a bit of confidence does and what goals do to people and we believe and we know what we can do."

Words of wisdom from manager Steve Evans resonated with the 29-year-old, as it did with the rest of the squad.

Norris said: "It was a slow start from us and the goals we gave away were not good at all, we need to cut that out.

"I got a bit heated after the second goal, we all did, because it means so much. I don't care how we win as long as we win. 

"The gaffer said to us before the game, 'find a way to win’. We haven't been doing that the last few weeks.

"That stuck with us and after a poor first half, we found a way to win.

"We need to score goals, we've been lacking in attacking areas, I know that. 

"It’s given us a lot more confidence again and we're all now really looking forward [to the rest of the season]."

The winner, a crisp volley at the back post that flew into the net, was celebrated with a good number of travelling fans behind the goal.

And for Stevenage's hometown hero, that was a special moment that he gets completely.

Norris said: "It's always nice when you get a goal in front of the fans. I had family and friends in there as well so it does mean a lot. 

"I'm from Stevenage and I know what it's like. I feel it [like the fans]. 

"Some of the boys don't realise and they take the mick but Stevenage is where I'm from so for us to do well as a club, it means a lot to me.

"It's what the fans deserve. After the season we've had so far, everything's been good, everything's been great and we’ve had so many pats on the back. The fans have been loving it. 

"And then we've let our standards drop. The last four or five results have been really poor and it's not been us. 

"We all knew. This game was massive after [the loss to Tranmere Rovers at home on Saturday] when we didn't do what we needed to do. 

"We had to put it right. We can only take every game as it comes but we needed that.

"We showed we can go and get it done."