Hinckley AFC fell to an opening day defeat as they left themselves too much to do after a slow start at Newark Town.
That early-season optimism felt like it had been extinguished by half time as Hinckley fell two goals behind away to last season’s beaten play-off finalists.
They came on much stronger after the break and halved the deficit through Chandler Pegg, but it was too big a mountain to climb as they open with a loss on the board.
Without the unavailable Oliver Bosworth, Alec Hill deputised in goal and he was quickly into some excellent work. Newark started much the brighter – Hill made a smart stop from Ryan Rushen’s 20-yarder and was then at full stretch to deny Luke White, who had cut in from the left.
Hinckley had brief moments – their best came when Fin Barker carried forward from midfield but opted to go alone when Dan Edmonds would have been clean through, and Newark blocked well.
But for large spells, AFC couldn’t get to grips with the home side’s crisp passing and movement and the opening goal came on the half hour – twice only half-clearing a corner and Toby White forced it home at Newark’s third attempt.
Hill made another excellent save from Luke White in similar fashion to his first, tipping wide after the winger had cut in, and the home side’s second goal soon followed.
It was an outstanding individual strike from Rushen, who latched onto the ball 25 yards out and bent one beautifully into the top corner.
At that stage, you felt like it would be a long afternoon for Hinckley but a double change at the break gave them more impetus and they were soon back in the game. On the hour, both of those changes were involved as Najeem Oriola fed Edmonds’ willing run down the right, and he squared for Chandler Pegg to convert AFC’s first goal of the season.
For all their possession and territory, Hinckley didn’t create too many chances – Newark defended well and goalkeeper Haydon McCarthy wasn’t really tested.
They did twice go close when Jacob Shilton stole a yard from Luke Jones’ free kick but glanced wide, and soon after a flowing move down the right ended with Jake Brown’s effort deflected into the side netting.
Hill, though, still had to be at his best in the second half – another fantastic stop late on, his first work of the half, denied Toby White a second from a corner played to the edge of the box.
And Newark defended well in the closing stages to eke out an opening day win and leave Hinckley waiting for their first points ahead of a quick turnaround for the visit of Leicester Nirvana on Monday.
Newark: Haydon McCarthy, Andrew Tsolakis, Ryley Thompson, Toby White (Oscar Marshall 84), Luke Andersen, Kemal Yenibertiz, Charles Opoku, Harvey Grice, Ryan Rushen (Molice Harry 76), Harry Allcock (Lucus Cotterill 84), Luke White (Will Rawdon 84). Sub not used: Rhys Lewis.
Goals: Toby White (30), Ryan Rushen (34)
Hinckley: Alec Hill, Lewis Warnaby, Gabe Webster, Zaki Evans (Jake Brown 74), Jacob Shilton, Max Jemson, Zach Tellyn (Chandler Pegg 46), Matt Brown (Charlie Williams 53), Dan Edmonds (Sonny Sheasby 66), Fin Barker (Najeem Oriola 46), Luke Jones.
Goal: Chandler Pegg (59)
