Newark and Sherwood Utd 0 Ashby Ivanhoe 2

Ashby bounced back from their FA Vase exit as a controlled second half performance saw them to victory in Nottinghamshire.

Top scorer Sam Grouse was named captain for the first time and the forward would play a pivotal role in his side's victory.

With a makeshift back four, and new man Ben Bradshaw partnering the returning Jack Samples in midfield, Ivanhoe struggled to control the match in the opening stages.

A cagey first half saw the only clearcut chance fall to Newark's Liam Moran, who forced Sam Taylor into a good save with his feet following a defensive mix up from Ashby.

Crucially, manager Andy Gray opted to switch Ash Garner and Liam Donaghy late in the half, the latter moving into a more natural position in midfield.

Ivanhoe grew into the game from this point, a theme that continued after the break, with Bradshaw, Samples and Donaghy physically overpowering the hosts and putting together some excellent pieces of play.

New boy Charlie Adcock was brought on to partner Sam Grouse and immediately the captain's influence grew.

After missing a chance at the near post, Grouse was played through again moments later, this time making no mistake as he side footed the ball into the bottom corner.

Ivanhoe had not forced Ross Woolley into a meaningful save before the goal, however the momentum had shifted firmly in their favour, and it would have been hard to argue that their lead was undeserved.

They extended their lead seven minutes later with a goal which was all of Grouse's own making. After shifting the ball out of his feet, he struck a sweet, low drive goalward, finding the corner and leaving the scrambling Woolley helpless.

Content to sit on their lead, Ivanhoe were robust defensively. Newark looked to exploit the naturally attacking full back pairing of Will Mansfield and Chris Acott, who both delivered disciplined performances in the closing stages and left no space for the wide men.

Ivanhoe saw the match out with little drama, something assistant manager Pete Dunn was delighted by.

''Losing can become a habit, so its good to get back to winning ways especially when we have had to fit square pegs in round holes. I thought Ben was a Rolls Royce in midfield, he and Jack played off each other really well. But that what I expect when you have that kind of quality in the middle of the park,'' he said when asked about the influence of Ashby's new signings.

They will need to produce a similar level of performance on Tuesday if Ivanhoe are to pick up a positive result against Loughborough Students, who come to the NFU Sports Ground in excellent form.