Mansfield edge League Two win over Walsall to extend unbeaten run to 19 games

Mansfield extended their remarkable start to the season to 19 games unbeaten in all competitions after a 2-1 League Two home win over Walsall.

The home side went ahead after 16 minutes. A combination of goalkeeper Owen Evans and the crossbar kept out Aden Flint’s first header from a George Maris corner.

In the scramble that followed, Davis Keillor-Dunn had a shot blocked before Flint fired the ball home at the third time of asking.

Maris had a good effort deflect just wide, while after 37 minutes, Evans had to go down to his left to keep out a Keillor-Dunn finish that was fired across him from a narrow angle on the left.

Aaron Lewis sent a great chance over from 12 yards within two minutes of the restart.

But with their first shot on target of the game, the Saddlers were level after 52 minutes. Tom Knowles drove down the right and crossed low for Ryan Stirk to finish from 12 yards against his former club.

However, Jordan Bowery won it for Mansfield after 71 minutes with a first-time finish from Will Swan’s left-wing cross that found the net off the inside of the post.