Mansfield Town and Wycombe Wanderers go into the break goalless of their League Two clash, but the Stags look the team most likely to make the breakthrough.
The first incident of note was an accidental collision between Ricky Ravenhill and Peter Murphy, with the latter requiring a bandage around his head.
Sido Jombati got involved and this set the tone for the rest of the half, with a number of rough challenges coming in from both sides, but the referee's only concern was Peter Murphy's dissent which earned the Wanderers midfielder a yellow card.
Most of the action was in the middle of the park, with a long-range effort from Wycombe's Marcus Bean that was tipped around the corner by on-loan keeper Adam Smith the closest that either side would come before the break.
It was Mansfield who upped the ante just before half time. Matty Blair was through on goal, but his shot was deflected away before Ryan Tafazolli's header caused a goalmouth scramble which was eventually cleared off the line.
