On this day, May 21st 2004, it was the morning after the night before as Mansfield Town prepared to head to Cardiff and face Huddersfield Town…
On this day, May 21st 2004, it was the morning after the night before as Mansfield Town prepared to head to Cardiff and face Huddersfield Town in the Division 3 (as it was then) play off final. This was following a dramatic night at Field Mill as they beat Northampton Town on Penalties.
All was going swimmingly from the first leg at the SixSeats Stadium, when a 2-0 away win gave everyone hope that the 2nd leg would become a formality.
Little did we know as Northampton stormed into a 3-0 lead just after the half time break and hearts were sunk in a crowd of 9,243 (what we would give for them again!).
Midfielder Tom Curtis was the hero in normal time, as he struck in the 68th minute to bring the tie back to 3-3 and send it into extra time, suddenly all hope was restored.
An absorbing extra time period played out with no more goals, and the tie entered penalties.
Mansfield Town went onto score all five penalties to send the crowd into raptures, it was a glorious night and led to many hangovers on this day back in 2004.
Ticket details were announced for the final in Cardiff, played outside our fine captial due to Wembley being re-built, and 14,000 Stags fans were then able to head to the clash with Huddersfield Town at the end of May 2004.
Stags Line up for the 2nd leg v Northampton Town:
Pilkington
Hassell
John-Baptiste
Day
Eaton
Lawrence
Curtis
Williamson
Disley
Corden
Mendes
Subs used:
Larkin
D`Jaffo
MacKenzie
