Sean McConville scored the winning goal to secure Stanley their first win of the season over Mansfield.
The winger struck in the 33rd minute firing home a 25 yard strike - with the help of a deflection - to wrong foot former Burnley keeper Brian Jensen.
It was enough to secure the three points in what was a feisty affair with ten bookings and a melee in the 91st minute.
Mansfield, who had four points from their opening two league encounters, dominated possession in the early stages and striker Chris Beardsley looked a threat but they failed to create any clear cut chances and the Reds backline held firm.
Both sides conceded possession without creating too much and then, from a throw, McConville took his chance, notching up his first goal on his return to Stanley after re-joining in the summer.
This seemed to spur the Reds on and, from then on, they looked the more likely to score a second with McConville coming close after the break but Jensen denied him at the near post.
Jensen was again in the thick of the action on 53 minutes as an Adam Buxton ball over the top was latched onto by Billy Kee who raced clear but the keeper thwarted him.
From then on it was less about goalmouth action and more about tackles and bookings as it got increasingly heated although Seamus Conneely almost scored a wonder goal with a long range strike which was inches over the crossbar.
As the fourth official signalled six minutes of added time, Buxton was felled and a melee ensued with four bookings coming off that one incident.
Stanley saw out the added time without too many problems and celebrated a vital first win of the campaign.
Accrington Stanley: Mooney, Pearson, Winnard, Davies, Mingoia, Windass (Barry 75), McConville (Bruna 83), Crooks, Buxton, Coneelly, Kee
Subs: Etheridge, Barry, Morgan, Gornell, Wakefield, Wright, Bruna
Mansfield Town: Jensen, Beinning, Rose Pearce, Chapman (J. Thomas 55), Clements, Beardsley, N.Thomas (Yusuf 55), Tafzolli, Hunt, Lambe (Westcarr 60)
Subs: Marsden, Westcarr, Yussuf, J.Thomas, McGuire, Caton, Fitzpatrick
Attendance: 1,073