STAGS ON THIS DAY: Mansfield Town prove too strong for Oxford as they maintain promotion push

On this day 39 years ago the Stags ran out 3-0 winners over Oxford as they kept up the heat on Division Three leaders Brighton.

On a wet and windy Monday night at Field Mill, the Stags proved too strong for mid-table Oxford.

The game was played in a downpour but the hosts coped the better with the conditions as Ernie Moss continued his scoring streak to make the breakthrough on 31 minutes.

Moss’ glancing header found the net after he beat Oxford’s stopper to the ball.

It was just reward for the Stags who had been the dominant team until that point.

They went 2-0 up when Kevin Bird netted his first of the campaign after good work from Colin Foster.

Two minutes later Moss doubled his tally and got the crucial third when another header found the back of the net.

Town’s player-manager Peter Morris admitted: “It took us quite a time to sort them out.

“They used a similar style to the one we use away from home, and it took some time to break down.”

STAGS: Arnold, Bird, B Foster, McEwan, Saxby, C Foster, Morris, Moss, Randall, Hodgson, Miller.