in use the mat schematically shown at 60 is placed in position on the surface to be retained or secured and the ball like nose of the anchor is placed against the mat surface and is then begun to be driven through the mat as the ball like nose or rounded nose enters the structure of the mat it will cause the strands of the mat to be pushed aside as the anchor is driven further into the mat the degree by which the strands are pushed aside will increase to allow the anchor to pass through the mat in many instances utilizing normally stranded mats and standard smaller sized anchors equipped with the rounded or ball like nose leading edge the entire anchor can be pushed through the mat without breaking the strands of the mat in other instances when slightly larger anchors are used one or more of the strands may be stretched beyond its limit and separate but damage to the mat is minimal compared to the use of sharper or chiseled or leading edges or sharper edges extending backwardly from a leading point while the use of blunted rounded non sharpened nose portions and leading side edges on the ribs and along.