Mooney treble stuns Rangers

Summer signing Tommy Mooney opened his Walsall account in style with a match-winning hat-trick at Marston Road, as the Saddlers ran out 3-1 winners against Stafford Rangers.

And the former Birmingham striker admitted getting off the mark for his latest club has removed a large slice of pressure from his shoulders.

The 35-year-old showed encouraging signs of an early understanding with new strike-partner Martin Butler, who had a hand in all three goals after Stafford's Richard Sutton had grabbed an early opener.

And Mooney was delighted to be among the goals and to spend 66 minutes on the field.

"It's important that we get the workout of the games," said Mooney.

"We're working very hard in training but it's only in the matches where you get the rewards for the hard work of the past two or three weeks.

"We weathered the storm in the first half and were disappointed with the way we conceded a goal, but we went on then to calm the game down and played well.

"For me to get off the mark takes a bit of pressure off, but it was really about the workout.

Athletic

"A striker likes to get off the mark and it's something I've always done quickly, so it was nice.

"It was one of my nights. Michael Dobson did brilliantly for the penalty and 'Butts' did brilliantly for the second goal but the defender let me get in behind him, which was much appreciated.

"In the second half we settled down and played very well in spells and the manager is pleased.

"The first half was more athletic, if you like, but in the second half we played well.

"The manager has gone out and got players who people have heard of and know the game of football and we showed that.

"Hopefully we can go on and do it bigger and better when the season starts."

Walsall handed a first trial appearance to Gambian 'Eddy' Sonko and a first to defender Paul Boertien and fielded Darren Wrack at right back and Daniel Fox in a left-sided midfield role.

They suffered a setback in the first minute when Sutton lost his marker and blasted a Matt Fisher corner into the roof of the net.

But Richard Money's side were level on nine minutes after a clumsy challenge from Craig McAughtrie sent Dobson tumbling. Mooney grabbed the ball and dispatched the penalty low to the left of keeper Danny Alcock.

Dobson sent a long-range shot a couple of yards wide before Walsall went ahead four minutes before half-time.

A mix-up between McAughtrie and Alcock presented Butler with a shooting chance, and when Alcock could only parry Mooney pounced to convert from close range.

Sonko drilled a shot just wide for Walsall and veteran striker Neil Grayson did likewise for Rangers.

Mooney wrapped up his treble just before the hour-mark when a cross by Sonko was flicked on by Butler and Mooney rounded the last defender before firing home into the far, bottom corner.

Butler headed over for Walsall, Sutton rattled Clayton Ince's woodwork with a fierce shot, Carlos Carneiro just failed the convert a far-post chance in his first Walsall appearance and Boertien rolled a shot just wide after a neat exchange with Carneiro.

Stafford: Alcock, Richards (Wood, 62), Sangare, McAughtrie, Sutton (Hopkinson, 84), Saunders, Street, Fisher, Draper (Daniel, 62), Grayson (Suhaj, 74), Assamoah (Olayoe, 74). Subs (not used): Duggan, Linford, Jarrett, Brown, Dillon, Oldfield, Robinson.

Walsall: Ince, Wrack, Roper, Gerrard (Dann, HT), Boertien; Hall (Sonko, HT), Dobson, Sonner (Demontagnac, 71), Fox; Mooney (Carneiro, 66), Butler. Subs (not used): Nicholls, Bradley, Deeney, Bossu.