ALVECHURCH slipped to a 1-0 opening day defeat at Kettering Town as Kyle Storer’s side made a losing start to the campaign. Church looked to respond as Miracle Okafor fired narrowly over the crossbar with a shot on the turn from inside the box. The home side went close again before the break as Evans made another crucial stop while Kettering also hit the post. Kettering had Panter sent off on 69 minutes after he received a second yellow card. And Church almost snatched a point at the death as Okafor’s overhead kick attempt went narrowly wide in injury time.