Ashby Ivanhoe 1 Pinchbeck United 1

Ashby Ivanhoe were frustrated in their first Step 5 outing by a resilient Pinchbeck United, who left Leicestershire with a hard-earned point.

Despite being second best for much of the match, it was the visitors who opened the scoring after Taylor Jaine's cross from the right was turned in from an acute angle by Andre Williams, who found the net after Ashby goalkeeper Sam Taylor failed to gather the ball.

Pinchbeck had goalkeeper Charlie Wilkinson to thank for their lead, the shot stopper made several good saves in the opening half an hour, most notably from Sam Grouse, who saw his one-on-one shot kept out despite having most of the goal to aim at.

Wilkinson was unable to deny Ivanhoe all half, however. Danny Quinn, who was pivotal in Ashby's play-off run last season, opened their account for 2023/24 hit a right-footed strike from the edge of the box, which flew into the top left corner and beat the keeper's despairing dive.

With momentum firmly in their favour, Ivanhoe fans may have expected their side to fly out of the blocks after the break.

Despite this, the hosts were unable to create many clearcut chances, and failed to call Wilkinson into action.

It was Pinchbeck who had the clearest sight of goal in the second half as Jaine was played in on goal, only to drag his shot past the far post.

Chances for substitute James Harrison and Ash Garner went begging for Ivanhoe - Harrison seeing his chip over the goalkeeper roll narrowly round the post and Garner's header from a Jake Conkay corner flying over the crossbar moments later.

Manager Andy Gray saw the match as two points lost, and will be looking for an improved performance when his side host Eastwood CFC on Tuesday night.