Chelmsley Town 1 Ashby Ivanhoe 4

Ashby Ivanhoe sealed a home play-off tie in convincing fashion as Dan Quinn bagged a hat-trick in this first start since October.

In a match in which the home side offered a constant threat to Tommy Dyche's goal, Ivanhoe showed a clinical edge at the other end to comfortably win a contest which could have ended much differently.

Andy Gray's side edged an evenly fought first half and took the lead after 20 minutes through Quinn's first goal, a calm finish into an empty net from close range after a poor Chelmsley clearance set him up perfectly.

The hosts responded well to going behind and had a number of chances to level the match. The closest of these forcing a strong save from Dyche at his near post.

Despite the pressure, it was Ivanhoe who would score next with their only clear sight of goal since taking the lead.

Once again it was Quinn on target, latching onto Sam Grouse's looping header and firing past the onrushing goalkeeper with just five minutes left of the half.

After the break, Chelmsley continued to look dangerous and somehow did not cut the deficit when Liam Storer produced one of the tackles of the season, preventing the forward from tapping into an empty net when the rest of Ashby's defence had switched off.

Ivanhoe did not appear to learn from this close call and were beaten by a sensational first time strike into the top corner by Charlie Williams just before the hour mark.

The winger had been a threat on the left hand side for much of the match and gave his side a goal that was deserved on the balance of the half.

This would spring Ivanhoe to life, the visitors playing some fantastic attacking football for the rest of the half.

It only took three minutes for them to restore their two goal lead. Picking up the ball inside the box, Quinn cut inside and fired a shot which took a big deflection, deceiving the goalkeeper and giving Quinn a deserved hat-trick.

For a man who has played little football over the last six months, the striker adapted to the pace of the game superbly and showed how valuable an asset he will be in the promotion chase.

He was immediately replaced by Haydn Brown, who quickly brought another level of energy to Ivanhoe. Brown has made a positive impact on multiple occasions this season and has undoubtedly been the success story to come out of the Knights in 2023.

He soon found himself on the scoresheet in brilliant fashion. Outmuscling the first Chelmsley defender on the wing, before showing quick feet and cutting inside, taking two more out of the game and putting the game beyond doubt with a sharp finish.

Brown's impact on the game continued after this as he could have scored a second, his header crashing against the post after good work from fellow substitute Josh Thomas on the left in the closing minutes.

The victory was coupled with a defeat for play-off rivals Hinckley AFC, meaning that Ivanhoe have secured second place and a home playoff semi final against OJM Black Country.

Before then, Gray's team return to Smethwick on Tuesday and close out the season at home to Bridgnorth on Saturday.