Hinckley AFC suffered another dose of the away day blues and are still to taste victory on their travels this season after a 3-1 defeat to Ashby Ivanhoe.
Despite taking an early lead through Jack Edwards, they were second best throughout against a home side who always carried an attacking threat and were worthy winners.
In contrast, AFC laboured for long spells, they struggled to get their passing game together and created very little. Clearly new additions need time to settle in, but time isn’t on their side if the season isn’t to run away from them.
It started well for the visitors as they took the lead on 13 minutes. For the first time, they strung a series of passes together and made good progress along their right flank before they found Edwards, centrally placed 20 yards from goal, and he curled a right foot shot beyond Tommy Dyche into the top corner.
But that was as good as it got for Hinckley and the home side levelled seven minutes later. Will Groocock was fouled on the edge of the area and Danny Quinn slammed home the penalty.
Groocock was again involved as Ashby took the lead soon after. He danced around a couple of defenders all too easily as he ran along the left hand bye-line before pulling the ball back for the unmarked Will Robson to finish.
Joe Conneely made a double change at the break to try to pump fresh impetus into his side, but five minutes into the second half, Ivanhoe extended their lead. Hinckley’s defenders had chances to clear their lines, but they didn’t do so and they were punished by Quinn whose superbly struck angled drive from the right hand edge of the area gave Brandon Bache no chance.
Hinckley made another double change soon after, but to no effect as the travelling support had little to get excited about.
Ashby played out the second half with a degree of comfort to claim the points and leave the Hinckley management with much to ponder.
Ashby: Tommy Dyche, Jake Conkay, Harry Stewart, Joe Neal, Macauley Holmes, Ash Garner, Josh Thomas, Chris Acott, Will Robson (Jack Robinson 88), Will Groocock, Danny Quinn (Gabe Webster 79). Subs not used: Liam Storer, Ciaran Hughes, Andy Hulley.
Goals: Dan Quinn (21 pen, 50), Will Robson (27)
Hinckley: Brandon Bache, Harry Walker-Donovan, Jeremie Agholor (Matt Dawson 45), Ethan Baynham (Chris Camwell 45), Joe McNulty, Adam Barber, Ben Newport (Lewis Padmore 73), Joe Cairns (Reece Jacobs 55), Lewis Collins, Lewis Rankin, Jack Edwards (James Reid 55).
Goal: Jack Edwards (13)
Attendance: 183