STAGS ON THIS DAY: Dave Caldwell stars as Mansfield put four past Crewe

But the fact that the game took place at all proved to be an achievement in itself.

Groundstaff, apprentices, management and even the club secretary pooled their efforts to ensure ice on the pitch didn’t result in cancellation.

They cleared it up so well that by kick-off conditions were near perfect.

Mansfield’s win took away the headlines from what should have been a special day for Alexandra’s former Manchester United man Jimmy Greenhoff who was making his 500th Football League appearance.

Recent signing Jim Lumby, from Tranmere, took merely 90 seconds to open the scoring for the Stags.

The hosts doubled their advantage on 20 minutes when Caldwell lashed in a scorcher from 25 yards.

Defender Ian Wood also got in on the act when he made it 3-1 shortly before half-time.

However, the visitors were soon back in the game when Greenhoff scored a fine goal to mark his special day.

The hosts dominated play and Arthur Mann put the icing on the cake just after the hour mark when his free-kick sailed into the net.

Boss Mick Jones said afterwards: “I was very satisfied by our victory and the manner in which it was achieved.”

The Stags eventually finished seventh in the Fourth Division with 49 points.