MANSFIELD Town fired three first-half goals on their way to upsetting League One Walsall at Field Mill.

The Stags took the game to the Saddlers from the first whistle and a Mark Hughes own goal, a Paul Heckingbottom free kick and Louis Briscoe's header had the Stags 3-0 up after 32 minutes.

Peter Till pulled one back straight after the break but it was the Blue Square Premier side that came out 3-1 winners last night.

After Rob Duffy wasted a good chance in the opening minute, Kyle Perry used his big frame to shrug off Daryl Westlake before whipping in a low cross from the left.

And as it fizzed across the six-yard box, Hughes slid in to clear, only to turn it into the bottom corner of his own net.

Mansfield's dominance continued and they doubled their advantage on 16 minutes.

Heckingbottom curled in a superb free kick from the right and indecision from the Walsall defence allowed the inswinger to make its way through a sea of bodies and into the back of the net, although Luke Jones and Duffy tried claiming the final touch.

It prompted the first real attack from the visitors, who responded through Steve Jones but his low effort was palmed away by Alan Marriott.

Duffy could twice have got on the scoresheet for the Stags, first shooting wide from Perry's lay-off before wasting a golden chance with a poor back-post header.

But Duffy turned provider when he crossed from the right for the on-rushing Briscoe, who dived in to beat the advancing goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin and head into the bottom corner from eight yards.

Walsall pulled one back 38 seconds after the restart when hesitation at the back cost the Stags. Sam Parkin capitalised and from the byline, he pulled it back for Till who drilled the ball beyond Marriott.