07/12/2007 - Harrogate Railway 2 Mansfield Town 3
IT may not have been the result that millions of people watching live on television wanted, but for the tiny percentage cheering on Mansfield this victory was more than welcome.
The relief on the faces of the Stags players as they left the pitch was clearly evident, as it was when manager Billy Dearden came out to watch the third round draw. and give his reaction in front of the cameras.
With a tight, sloping pitch made heavy underfoot by constant, driving rain and a vociferous home crowd behind them, all the ingredients were there for an upset.
So to have played some decent football and seen off a spirited comeback from the hosts was hugely satisfying and a job well done.
Secondly, the triumph signalled a first away victory of the season - and the first since the Stags beat Lincoln 2-1 at Sincil Bank in March.
The fact it was against a side some four divisions below Mansfield in the football pyramid did not matter.
With every game that has gone by without a victory away from Field Mill, the pressure has been growing.
So at least now the players no longer have to answer questions on that subject. They should also get plenty of confidence from a win that was as much down to hard work as footballing ability.
The hope among the visiting supporters will be that Mansfield can repeat the trick when they next travel to Grimsby midway through December.
Because if they can pick up points on their travels, they also have four home games during the month to look forward to.
But perhaps most importantly, the result was also a welcome lift after what was a big disappointment for the supporters at the end of last week with owner Keith Haslam turning down a takeover bid from James Derry's consortium.
Where that saga goes from here remains to be seen after Derry's comments that it could be difficult to now resurrect a deal.
But at least this victory and the extra money that will generate from another cup tie should help the Stags financially in the short-term - even if it is, ironically, their lucrative cup run that is said to be part of the reason for Haslam not selling up.
Defeat at Station View would have been another bitter pill to swallow for the Stags faithful so soon after the buy-out impasse.
Now, though, the supporters who chanted for an end to the reign of their managing director's control of the club throughout the game, may believe things are on the up on the pitch, even if there is still a great amount of uncertainty off it.
There may be more demonstrations against Haslam in the weeks to come if he, as now seems likely, remains in charge for the foreseeable future.
But those fans are sure to stay behind the team - as they did throughout the good and not so good moments of this exhilarating cup tie.
Had Harrogate Railway gone in front, as they went so close to doing inside the first three minutes, things might have turned out very differently.
The hosts won a free-kick on the edge of the Mansfield box and Scott Ryan was unlucky to see his well-directed effort clip the bar and fly over.
After a torrid opening for the Stags, they eventually began to settle down and looked a threat when breaking quickly.
After Rory Boulding and Johnny Mullins went close within seconds of each other, a minute later the Stags were ahead in the 38th minute.
The goal was created by an intricate passing movement that turned out to be the best of the game, though the actual finish itself was somewhat fortuitous.
As Michael Boulding shaped to shoot, he was tackled and the ball ran clear for Gareth Jelleyman. His shot was well saved by Joanthan McLaughlin but as he and a defender chased the follow-up, the ball was cleared against him and rebounded into goal.
That goal allowed Mansfield to go in ahead at the break and they came out in the second period eager to add to their tally.
It was no surprise when they did just that in the 51st minute when Rory Boulding's flick put Boulding away and he made no mistake with a low finish.
At that point it looked like game over. But then came a little bit of the magic that the FA Cup is so famous for.
Railway manager Vinnie Brockie threw on substitute striker Danny Davidson just before the hour mark and, with his first real contribution, he pulled a goal back. He headed in a right-wing free-kick from Byron Littlefair which lifted the home support out of their seats.
Mansfield were thankful to re-establish their authority with a third goal in the 77th minute that saw Boulding slide home his second and his 13th of the season from Simon Brown's low cross.
But still Harrogate would not lie down and they again got back into the game when Davidson drilled in with six minutes to go after a half-cleared set-piece.
There were plenty of nervy moments in the closing stages as the referee added on five minutes of injury time.
At the end, all of the plaudits, quite rightly, went to Harrogate for a terrific effort in getting through six rounds of the cup and pushing Mansfield so close.
But for Mansfield there are greater tests to come in League Two - plus a January trip to the seaside to face Brighton in the third round.