Relief for new Poppies bosses as early Panter strike secures success against Alvechurch
New management duo of Nick Green and David Bridgewater cut relieved figures as 10-man Kettering Town held on for a 1-0 victory against Alvechurch in the opening day of the Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central season.
After such a chaotic summer, it was a relief to finally get back to the business of competitive football.
And during a match which very much felt like the first day of term at Latimer Park, the Poppies put in a B minus performance that produced a strong, attacking opening half by the talented squad, who then showed their mettle in the second to keep out the visitors - especially after being reduced to 10 men in the final 21 minutes.
On a surface that captain Lawson D'ath described as ‘getting better’, Kettering quickly set about their work and forced keeper Redman Evans into a sharp low block to keep out Tai Flemming on six minutes, with Panter not quite in position for a close range follow-up.
But already the tide was fully in the host's favour and three minutes later, a long throw down the right by Flemming found Panter, who brilliantly turned before sending a thunderous first-time, angled effort that flew past Evans and into the net.
The Church shot-stopper continued to be the busier, needing to turn away a Flemming effort and two headers from Harvey Peters and Theo Alexandrou.
Panter also struck the post just before half time as the hosts pushed for a deserved second.
At the other endm the prolific Ben Stephens was kept quiet but Miracle Okafor was a constant thorn in the side shooting wide on 12 minutes and would have scored from just yards out had keeper Paul White not made a brave claim on 29 minutes.
The visitors had more of the second half possession without threatening as the new defensive linkup between Peters, Tom Leak, Jack Newell and former Cobbler Ryan Haynes gelled nicely.
But the game swung in Alvechurch's favour with 21 minutes remaining. Evans kept out yet another Panter effort from close range but in trying to retrieve the parried ball, the Poppies striker caught Jack Kelly from behind and rightly saw a second yellow card after a conversation between officials.
Okafor made the most of the extra space but could only send a header against the post on 71 minutes - the only real alarm bell for Kettering.
Substitute Kai Fifield twice broke free of the defensive line as did Alexandrou on 86 minutes and would have been baring down on goal had he not been cynically hauled down in the centre circle by another former Poppy Archie Crowther.
A late flurry of attacks again came from the dangerous Okafor who attempted an acrobatic bicycle kick that came to nought and a free-kick just 20 yards out was repelled in the final seconds as Kettering held on.
It was a good run out for the men in red, with captain Lawson D'ath a standout figure.
And with players still to return, many of the 990 fans in attendance left with an air of confidence.
Kettering will hope to continue the momentum when they travel to newly promoted Leighton Town on Tuesday evening.