TOWN were today told to relax and enjoy Monday's promotion showdown with Mansfield.

The advice comes from a man who has `been there and done it' in terms of Town play-off victories.

Jonathan Dyson played as a substitute at Wembley in 1995 when Neil Warnock's side beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 to go up into the First Division.

One of his teammates that day, Andy Booth, will be on duty at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium this time around (3.00) and, of course, Dyson also played alongside Peter Jackson in the formative years of his professional career.

Still living in Honley with wife Michelle and their young family, Dyson will obviously be rooting for a Town victory against Keith Curle's side to match that of nine years ago.

"My advice to the lads would simply be to relax and enjoy themselves," said Dyson, who this season played for winning Wembley captain Lee Sinnott at Farsley Celtic.

"Just like 1995, the team spirit in the club seems fantastic and Peter has taken the players away for a few days, just like Neil Warnock did with us.

"That gets the preparations off on a light note.

"It all helps with bonding before the big occasion and when it comes to the game, I would just say got to Cardiff and have a real go.

"Don't come back with any regrets, that's the key."

Dyson says every play-off winning team needs a bit of luck and that Town will be no different should they come away with the winners' medals.

"I remember Gareth Taylor missing an open goal from about four yards in our final at Wembley, so you do need a slice of luck along the way," he said. "You also have to take your chances when they come and it would be great to see Boothy score again in Cardiff.

"He got a great header for us at Wembley and it would be lovely if he could round off the season with another vital play-off goal for the club - preferably the winner.

"For Andrew to have scored 100 goals for the club already is an outstanding achievement.

"It's the record of a true quality player and I hope he keeps managing to add to his tally."

Dyson was among the crowd of 19,467 which watched the dramatic second leg of the semi-final against Lincoln.

Eleven years a Town player, he was as disappointed as everyone else with a 2-0 deficit at half-time which gave Lincoln a 3-2 aggregate advantage and a sight of their second successive final.

The man whose battling performances in the Town back line made him a McAlpine favourite, however, warmed to the passion of the fightback which brought goals for Danny Schofield (penalty) and Rob Edwards - who was a teammate of Dyson's in that wonderful Great Escape season under Jackson in 1997-98.

"Lincoln came with nothing to lose and they played in the first half as though they hadn't a care in the world," he said.

"They created plenty of pressure with freedom in their play and deserved to be two up (Richard Butcher and Mark Bailey were on target) but half- time changed it all completely.

"Town worked ever so hard to get back into the game.

"The back lads were tight and, even though Lincoln posed a threat at every dead-ball situation, they coped well.

"In midfield, Mr Worthington was perpetual motion, Danny Schofield was more in the game in the second half and there was extra space.

"Up front, Andrew and Iffy worked hard and John McAliskey did very well when he came on."

So what does Dyson think of Town's prospects for the final in the Welsh capital ?

"I think we've got a great chance of winning it," he answered.

"I know Mansfield won at the McAlpine only the other week, but I don't see that 3-1 scoreline having any bearing on Monday.

"You never know what's going to happen in football, especially over a one-off game.

"If Town perform like they did in the second half against Lincoln, though, I don't see any reason why they can't win and earn promotion.

"Perhaps we've made hard work of it by going through the play-offs after being so close to automatic promotion.

"But they've got every chance of progressing through Cardiff, which will be a great occasion, and reaching Division II, which would be tremendous for everyone involved given what the club has been through."