14/01/2008 - Chester City 0 Mansfield Town 1
IT wasn't a vintage performance by any means, nor was it particularly pretty one. In fact, Mansfield have played better away from Field Mill this season and lost.
But what this forgettable match did bring for the Stags was a precious and elusive first away victory of the campaign that could have big implications on the rest of their struggling season.
Having failed to prevail in their previous 12 attempts on the road in League Two this season, things were becoming increasingly desperate.
Those fixtures had yielded just three points from draws at Brentford, Barnet and Shrewsbury and, because of equally poor form at the end of 2006-2007, Mansfield were without an away league win since the 2-1 triumph at Lincoln on March 3.
An excellent, if unexpected, victory at Brighton in the FA Cup the previous week had lifted hopes the Stags could end their hoodoo. But a terrible performance in midweek to lose 4-0 at home to Wycombe had once again left Mansfield's supporters fearing the worst.
Already five points adrift, another defeat at the Deva Stadium could have spelt further trouble, especially if the teams around them had picked points. Yet, despite the continued absence of some of their key players - including suspended skipper Jake Buxton - Billy Dearden's men once again defied logic by toppling one-time promotion-chasers Chester.
And because those sides immediately above them lost - Dagenham and Lincoln - things suddenly look a whole lot brighter as Mansfield are only two points shy of escaping the drop zone with a game in hand.
Once again, the Stags were forced to do it against the odds because of a late hamstring injury to Martin McIntosh left them with no recognised central defenders.
It meant Gareth Jelleyman continued in his unaccustomed role in the middle while fellow full-back and acting skipper Johnny Mullins was also pulled across. They led from the front with distinguished displays that were backed up by right-back replacement Chris Wood - returning for his first game since injury against Dagenham in September - and Dan Martin.
And when they did need an extra little bit of help, goalkeeper Carl Muggleton was there to provide it with some fine saves.
But as well as the defence played, it was three points that, on balance, Mansfield just about deserved.
Ian Holmes ploughed a lone furrow up front for much of the game and did well in that unenviable task - as the ovation he received for the visiting fans when leaving the field late in the game testified.
Even so, the Stags were still able to fashion some decent opportunities while keeping their hosts' sights of goal to a minimum.
After a slow start, Holmes shot tamely at John Danby after being released by Brown, who then blazed over from a decent position.
And when Stephen Dawson dragged a golden chance wide from close in on the half-hour, there was a feeling Mansfield might live to regret it.
That could have been the case as, at the other end, Kevin Ellison's thumping shot was goal-bound until Muggleton dived to make the stop at full stretch and maintain parity at the break.
The winning goal came four minutes after the restart when Simon Brown took a pass from Holmes and picked out Matt Hamshaw steaming up outside him through the inside right channel.
The weight of the pass was perfect, allowing the former Sheffield Wednesday player to streak past his man and into the area before finishing past Danby, who got a hand to the shot but could not keep it out.
For Hamshaw it completed a week to remember. He broke his duck for the season at Brighton, celebrated the birth of his baby daughter the following day and then, after missing the Wycombe drubbing, returned to net a second in as many games.
As the game went on, the visitors were pushed back more and more in search of an equaliser.
But Mansfield stood firm as Chester threatened only twice. First Muggleton parried a near-post drive from Kevin Roberts and in the closing minutes he tipped a powerful header from Ellsion over the bar.
If the Stags had any complex this season about playing away from Field Mill, then surely now it has been swept away by events of their last two trips.
At Brighton, the Stags played some excellent football to beat a higher division when they were perhaps granted more space than they are used to in League Two.
Things were very different at the Deva. It was a tight game that required determination as much as skill in a game of few clear-cut chances.
But still the Stags found a way to win - a trick they are likely to have to repeat a time or two more if they want to retain their Football league status.
However, one thing this success must not do is deflect from Mansfield's urgent need to reinforce their injury-hit squad.
A resolute display meant the team were able to gallantly paper over the cracks of a makeshift back four and the absence of top scorer Michael Boulding.
But if the Stags are going to keep winning on a regular basis, they still need to bring in new blood to give them crucial extra numbers.
It is a fact not lost on boss Billy Dearden who reiterated after the game his desire to close out a couple of transfers this week.
However, the most important thing of all is Mansfield build on this with another positive result against Darlington on Saturday.
When the Stags beat Peterborough on Boxing Day hopes were high it would be a turning point, only for it to be followed by a painful home defeat to Accrington.
There was a new-found optimism after Brighton were brushed aside but, again, Mansfield failed to follow it up as they crumbled to Wycombe.
Now, Darlington or not, Mansfield have to show they can come up with the goods for more than just the odd game.
The last few months have been littered with false dawns.
The Stags cannot afford to let this be another one.