The Saddlers suffered defeat on the road as Jordan Bowery's strike secured all three points for Mansfield at the One Call Stadium.
Mat Sadler made two changes to the side which had to settle for a point against Crawley Town on Tuesday evening. David Okagbue returned to the starting XI, following a spell on the sidelines, in place of Harry Williams who was missing from the squad whilst Danny Johnson, fresh off his goal in midweek, was handed a start against his former club in place of Freddie Draper who missed out with an injury he picked up against The Red Devils.
It was a cagey start in the opening exchanges as both sides looked to put their stamp on proceedings early on. The first meaningful attempt on goal fell to the hosts on 13 minutes as Davis Keillor-Dunn picked the ball up on the right-hand side and drifted inside into space before striking towards goal on his weaker side – the effort however was more than comfortable for Owen Evans and he collected with ease.
Minutes later and Nigel Clough’s side got themselves ahead. A corner from George Maris on 16 minutes saw Stags captain Aden Flint rise high to head towards goal and even though Evans kept out his and Keillor-Dunn’s effort in quick succession, Flint bundled the ball home from close range to put his side ahead.
As the half progressed, the tie remained evenly contested with limited chances to report on until the 36th minute when Calum Macdonald delivered a low ball into the box from the left-hand side and Maris was waiting on the edge to fire a shot at goal but his effort was deflected out for a corner which in turn came to nothing.
Moments later and Keillor-Dunn had another effort on goal. The Stags man retrieved the ball out wide on the left and assessed his options before curling an effort towards the far-post but Evans was on hand to parry away from danger as another chance came and went.
On the stroke of half-time/additional time, there were chances for both sides. Tom Knowles did well to pick out Johnson and the Saddlers man turned and curled an effort towards goal from distance but it sailed just wide of the post. Shortly after, Donervon Daniels was dispossessed towards his own goal and Mansfield pounced with substitue James Gale winning the ball back and playing the ball into Maris' feet, but his touch let him down and the move eventually broke down.
The hosts had an early opportunity at the start of second half as Keillor-Dunn did well to manoeuvre his way into the box before pulling the ball back to Aaron Lewis who struck at goal but the effort sailed over the bar.
Minutes later and the Saddlers levelled the contest with a brilliant passage of play. A neat exchange between Johnson and Ross Tierney saw the ball eventually played out wide to Knowles and his cross missed the feet of Johnson but found Ryan Stirk who fired home from close range against his former club.
Fresh off his equaliser, Stirk had another strike on goal as we hit the hour mark - retrieving the ball in the Mansfield half and firing from distance but the effort went over the bar.
Mansfield continued to test the Saddlers defence and on 72 minutes they regained the lead. Substitute Will Swan sent in a cross from the left which came all the way through to the opposite side where Bowery was on hand to curl a left-footed shot back towards the far-post and his effort bounced into the ground, hit the post and nestled into the back of the net.
There was movement on the Saddlers bench as the half progressed as Douglas James-Taylor and Jamille Matt were introduced in place of Isaac Hutchinson and Stirk.
As the game reached its conclusion, Swan caused more chaos and almost got the assist for Mansfield's third as he drove towards the penalty area from the left-hand side and pulled the ball back to another subsititue in Hiram Boateng. The midfielder struck an effort first-time towards goal but Daniels was on hand to block the effort.
Sadler added further fresh legs onto the pitch as Taylor Allen came on in place of Knowles and whilst the Saddlers continued to plug away in search of an equaliser, Clough's side hung on to gain the three points and maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Attendance: 7641 (778 away)