Church lose narrowly again, enabling Kettering to move back to the top of the Southern League Premier Central table, a point ahead of previous leaders Halesowen Town, who themselves were level on points with Telford United and Bedford Town.

Similar to the weekend's 0-1 reversal at Stamford, there was ultimately little to choose between the two sides, and Luca Miller's somewhat mishit winner nine minutes from time proved decisive, and terminal as far as Church's game aspirations were concerned.

The visitors were quick out of the blocks, and immediately gave the impression that they wanted a fast paced encounter from the off.
The opening exchanges were, as a result, rather frenetic, although the threat on goal was somewhat absent.

It took 11 minutes for Church to create a positive opening, with quick feet from Callum Sullivan giving him the chance to deliver the ball invitingly across the face of the goal, but frustratingly no one in amber and black was on hand to deliver a coup de grace, and the ball was smuggled behind at the far post by a relieved defence.

Stand in Church keeper Ben Cisse was looking confident and assured with his ball handling and command of his area, and he showed his shot stopping prowess on 15 minutes in beating away a shot from just outside the box.

At the other end, Brad Stretton drives on target through a crowded area, and it takes an outstretched defensive boot to divert the danger away .
A massive penalty shout near the end of the first half might have on another day given Church an opening, but on this occasion the officials were completely uninterested.

Half Time: Alvechurch 0 Kettering Town 0

A good chance early in the second half saw Edwards head over from a promising central position, and then straight after, at the other end, Dan Sweeney brings a mis-cued clearance under control on the edge of the box, and quick feet sees him reposition himself to get an on-target shot off on the turn, but keeper Jezeph is well positioned to gather without too much trouble.

On the hour mark, Stretton fights hard to gain control of the ball on thee edge of the Kettering box, and unleashes a rasping shot which Jezeph takes two attempts to bring under control.

Church are enjoying good possession, and applying good and sustained pressure, with only a clear and decisive shot on goal missing.

We enter a period of the visitors enjoying a more sustained and dangerous looking phase of play, as they seem to be pushing forward with more regularity than at any other time in the game, but their breakthrough is rather unfortunate in context for Church, as the flicked effort from Miller deep inside the Church box is not really the clean cut chance that would have been expected to make the difference, with Cisse beaten by a wicked bobble, and the ball looping agonisingly, and seemingly in slow motion into the Church net.

That's the difference on the night. Fine margins, but the details won't matter to the visitors who celebrate their return to the summit of the table.