But it was far from the one-sided walkover that their respective league positions suggested it ought to have been. In fact, the Stags did themselves, and the town, proud, witnessed by more than 6,000 inside Field Mill and literally millions who watched the game live on television.

Enormous credit then to manager Billy Dearden and his squad of players. But now it's time to get back down to earth. The Cup run has been an exciting but largely unhelpful distraction from the really important business. What matters is the survival of the club in the Football League.

And it's not just a sport issue. What the comparatively small number of people - players, management and backroom staff - that make up Mansfield Town Football Club do is of considerable importance to Mansfield as a town. Pride . . . prestige . . . maintaining the 'feel-good factor' – they are all part of the intangible spin-off effect of having a successful professional soccer club.

What a crying shame it is then that the already colossal task of keeping the dream alive is proving that much harder because so many people feel unable to give their support whilst the ownership issue continues to remain unresolved.

Time really is running out. No-one who cares about the town and its football club wants 2008 to be remembered as the year Mansfield Town dropped into the Conference.