It is also a night that we all hope can be repeated 18 years on.
On that night Stags dramatically beat Northampton Town on 5-4 penalties after the two-legged affair had ended 3-3.
A crowd of 9,243 saw Colin Larkin score the winning penalty after Wayne Corden, Liam Lawrence, Neil MacKenzie and Laurent D'Jaffo had all scored.
Stags will have to do it in reverse order this season after finishing seventh with a final day draw at home to Forest Green.
Northampton didn’t even expect to be here after being pipped to automatic on goals scored following Bristol Rovers’ 7-0 drubbing of Scunthorpe.
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9. Northampton's players watch the shoot-out
Northampton went first in the shoot out, with Martin Reeves, Grant Smith and Paul Reid all scoring. Eric Sabin missed the fourth penalty, before Chris Willmott scored. But it was not enough as Colin Larkin scored Mansfield's fifth penalty for a 5-4 win. Photo: Ross Kinnaird
10. The joy of victory
The Mansfield team celebrate after their penalty shoot out win. They would feel the other side of the coin in the final following defeat to Huddersfield Town on penalties. Photo: Ross Kinnaird
11. Man of the moment
Colin Larkin is mobbed by the fans after scoring the winning penalty to send Mansfield to Cardiff. Photo: Ross Kinnaird
12. Time to celebrate
Stags players enjoy the moment after seeing off Northampton to book their date in the play-off final. Photo: Ross Kinnaird