Misfiring Kettering Town miss big chance to close in on the play-offs
A clueless Kettering Town simply didn't have any answers as they were outmuscled in a 2-0 defeat to an Alvechurch side that simply wanted the win more.
The fixture congestion is the reason why the Poppies will not reach the playoffs, as a leggy team, devoid of ideas couldn't break down their visitors who are fighting for survival.
Liam McDonald had identified Kettering's struggles against teams at the wrong end of the table after the weekend's slender victory over Bromsgrove.
But he'll now have fresh questions to answer as teams that are ready for a fight have identified striker Eddie Panter as a threat, while also causing chaos in the penalty area to keep the Kettering defence busy.
The defeat meant the Poppies missed the chance to move up to eighth and to within four points of the Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central play-offs. They stay 11th, seven points off the top five.
On the amount of possession and time spent in the opposition's final third, Kettering should not have lost this game.
But the fact that they only hit the target three times speaks volumes as time and again, launched balls up field were easily repelled by a 'Church' side clearly happy with a point from minute one.
Kettering's first outstanding chance was a free kick in a dangerous area 20 yards out on 22 minutes, but Lewis Coyle's curling effort into the bottom right corner was well kept out by keeper Redman Evans.
The resulting corner was nodded just over by the returning Levi Andoh in what turned out to be the hosts' best period of play.
On 36 minutes a solo effort from Will Van Lier resulted in a fierce strike from outside the area but Evans again was up to the challenge, turning the ball away for another corner.
Alvechurch had their first proper visit in the Kettering half on 42 minutes but the shot was easily held by Paul White as the half petered out - not that it had sparked in to life in the first place!
But sensing an upset, the visitors took the lead on 51 minutes.
A scramble inside the Kettering area finally saw the ball fall to the feet of Felix Miles who was allowed to poke home from just yards out.
If Alvechurch were wasting time in the first half, they doubled down after taking the lead but a naive Kettering side allowed them to, with hopeless long balls and unnecessary fouls.
Panter was shown a yellow card on 53 minutes for simulation inside the area when staying on his feet was a better option.
Despite a late triple substitution, Kettering still failed to make an impact. However a chance to equalise came on 85 minutes when an initial shot from Panter at a tight angle was parried by Evans into the path of Ismel Fatadjo but he could only pull his shot wide past an empty net.
Caught on the counter Alvechurch put the game to bed in stoppage time - Miles received the ball wide in acres of space, and with only Blaine Rowe to pass, he cut in and put the ball under the legs of White.
Defeat ended Kettering's run of six games unbeaten, and with a quickfire double header upcoming against another relegation threatened side, AFC Sudbury, the Poppies need to find ways of breaking down opposition who aren't going down with a fight.