02/04/2008 - Mansfield Town 2 Wrexham 1
How times change.
Just over 30 years ago Mansfield were fighting for the old Division Three title, and Wrexham for the right to join them in Division Two, when they met at a packed Racecourse Ground.
Last night those halcyon days were a distant memory as the two sides met in what was a scrap just to give them hope of staying in the Football League.
While the majority of the football-following nation were watching Manchester United's Champions League victory in Roma, those at Field Mill were just as gripped by a match at the other end of the spectrum.
It may have been hundreds of thousands rather than millions of pounds at stake, but it meant just as much, if not more, to the two sets of loyal fans.
In truth, the match was never going to decide the fate of either team with several games of the season still to go.
But it was clear that a loss for either would deal their survival bid a near terminal blow. With that in mind, for the vast majority of a vocal crowd, full-time brought the right result in the shape of a Mansfield win - just as an Ernie Moss goal helped secure victory back in that May 1977 clash.
But the triumph was not merely significant in terms of League standing - taking the Stags on to 37 points and cutting the gap to third bottom Notts County to four.
No, it was also a massive psychological boost for the Stags players and their long-suffering fans after such a poor run at home. Mansfield had drawn one and lost ten of their previous 11 home games.
In fact, the last time the Stags had cause to rejoice on their home patch, there was still plenty of leftover Christmas turkey after a 2-0 win over Peterborough on Boxing Day.
Out on the field, that has been eating away at confidence and contributed to some edgy, error-prone performances.
Off it, the dismal run had served to silence the backing. Without anything to get them pumped up, supporters have been reduced to mumbling into their Bovril.
But now, the players no longer have to worry about ending the drought, while those in the stands finally have a reason to get behind their team.
It was clear from the outset of last night's clash that neither side was going to settle for a point but with a strong wind against them, Mansfield found it difficult in a first half that was high in application, if low in quality.
Yet the Stags - fielding the same starting line-up as at Notts County four days earlier - could have snatched the lead in the third minute with what proved to be their best first-half opening.
Matt Hamshaw found space on the right to centre for top scorer Michael Boulding who headed straight at visiting keeper Gavin Ward from the edge of the six-yard box.
However, back came Wrexham as Drewe Broughton - on loan from MK Dons - first whistled a shot past the left-hand post and then had another saved by Carl Muggleton.
Phil Bolland and Chris Llewellyn both had further opportunities for the Red Dragons, but neither hit the target.
But there was a sense that if Mansfield could go in at the break on level terms, they could capitalise on the elements in the second half - and so it proved.
The opening seconds after the restart set the tone as the Stags were denied a penalty when Hall appeared to handle in the box.
But the luck that has eluded them for so long on home territory played a pivotal role as they struck the first blow.
As Matt Hamshaw's 49th minute right-wing corner caused panic, Gareth Evans, in a moment of madness, reached out and touched the ball with his hand and a penalty was awarded.
As Wrexham protested, it took a full two minutes for the kick to be taken but it did not phase Jefferson Louis, who sent Ward the wrong way.
And with their tails up, the hosts did not take long to score again with a flowing move worthy of winning any match.
Nathan Arnold, out on the left, picked out Stephen Dawson, who played the ball into Hamshaw. The midfielder played a perfectly weighted reverse ball for Johnny Mullins, on the charge.
He advanced into the box before sliding an angled finish past the advancing Ward before being mobbed by his team-mates.
But a lapse in concentration, which saw the Welshmen pull a goal back, made for a nervy last 12 minutes.
A quickly taken free-kick put in Stuart Nicholson and although his shot was parried by Muggleton, substitute Marc Williams turned the ball home.
Predictably, Mansfield dropped ever deeper but managed to hold on.
At the final whistle, the Mansfield players embraced each other, as much out of sheer relief as anything else. The reaction of the crowd was as if England had just won the World Cup final.
For Wrexham, the defeat was hard to take, knowing their hopes of pulling clear of the drop zone are now remote.
It was a fact not lost on their defender Simon Spender who stood motionless for several minutes before dragging himself off to the dressing room.
But for the Stags, things are suddenly looking up again. Another win on Saturday against Barnet - which would be their first consecutive wins of the season - and they will be firmly back in the survival race.
As the supporters made for the exits, "The Great Escape" theme tune belted out over the Field Mill tannoy.
And after this vital victory, you never know. It could just happen.